That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into

 

Pentecost must have been brilliant. No language barriers, many healings, miracles, visions, and clear guidance from God; the Apostles were unstoppable. And even in our day an encounter with the Holy Spirit tends to produce great fervour in those who have made the transition from believeing God exists to one’s certainty that He exists. All manner of adventure awaits those who embrace the risk of trusting when He puts you on the spot.

One evening (in the last century) I was on my way to Mass in Manchester City Centre, I parked outside the church at the end of the road as usual (as the traffic wardens had gone home for the night) and was about to walk up when a boy on a bycicle stopped and asked if I would help his friend who had been grabbed by two men at the top of the street. I said ‘yes’ and could see the two figures up ahead. He jumped back on his bike and set off, presumably to tell his friend that the cavalry was on the way!

I walked briskly up the road and decided I had better consult HQ to see what the plan was. So I prayed “Lord, what do you want me to say when I get there?” I waited a few seconds. Complete Radio Silence. Perhaps that was the wrong question. So I prayed “Lord, what shall I do once I get there? And I added a suggestion so as to move things along as I was already half way there.. “Shall I thump him on the nose?” Silence again. In the last 10 seconds I tried to recall the numerous methods God uses to communicate with his people, I scanned the vegetation looking for anything smouldering, checked the pavement for a conveniently discarded donkey’s jaw bone and then suddenly I had arrived. 

At a range of 12 inches from the face of the antagonist who still had hold of the boy’s arm I concluded that I ought to follow the instructions precisely. So I said …. Nothing. I did … Nothing. I simply stared at their faces; relentlessly! Neither seemed able to make eye contact with me.  He let go of the boy, they exchanged a few more ‘un-pleasantries’ with each other and the two men turned on their heels and left. The boy said “thanks mister” and he and his friend left in the opposite direction. I went to Mass none-the wiser as to what had transpired!

It would be interesting to know the other side of the story; perhaps my guardian angel had shown himself with a flaming sword or maybe I looked more terrifying than usual. In any case I know that God is trustworthy and we can have confidence in Him to come through when we do what is proper. (“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” John 16:33)

‘Légion étrangère’

It is often only with hindsight that we can comprehend the significance of certain events or fleeting moments in life. The other day I suddenly remembered a peculiar meeting, 33 years ago at a motorway service station on the M6 in the UK.

A few compadres and I were returning from Medjugorje (Bosnia Herzegovina) having delivered a few vanloads of aid goods to the refugees during the war there. We clambered out of a minibus, unkempt, unshaven, weary, and with an odour that sang its own tune. A man approached us; he was a soldier in the French Foreign Legion, a Glaswegian, given leave to attend his mother’s funeral. He asked to exchange some French Francs for Pounds so he could complete his journey. We were able to oblige and he gave me his business card. His skill set was impressive.

The Legion will accept anyone as a volunteer. They are given a new identity when they join (many need one) and the training is one of the toughest of any military unit. Whatever skill they bring will be greatly enhanced through training and discipline and unified in their ‘esprit de corps’.

The other day, I watched a talk about Medjugorje where the interviewee spoke about the essence of what Medjugorje is about. Whilst there are many physical healings of course, the most important and most numerous by far are the massive conversions that take place every day. There were complete turnarounds in the lives of the most shipwrecked souls you can imagine. A Priest mentioned that converts have deeply felt contrition for their past sins. Medjugorje does not attract the good so much, as those whose lives are wounded by mortal sin and ignorance. (I can be counted amongst these). The graces being poured out from heaven so liberally on the least deserving of souls, is unprecedented.

But the Medjugorje experience is just the beginning; as with the Légion étrangère,’ we are given a new identity, restored as children of God as we are snatched out of the fire and begin a long and often painful process of change, purification and growth; our basic training in the Christian life, to pray with the heart; weapons training like the Rosary and an array of armaments for the spiritual warfare we are all engaged in. In the first instance then, Medjugorje can be seen as heaven’s rescue mission for each individual but from another vantage point :- it’s something more.

In almost 45 years since the apparitions began, over 50 million pilgrims from all over the world have visited. Few would return empty handed and so now our Lady has at her command, at a variety of levels of training, millions of warriors, formerly ensnared by the enemy to some degree, now forged to form the tip of the spear against him and his legions. They are deployed by the Queen of Peace through Prayer groups, Pilgrimage organisers, (annoying) evangelists, charitable groups and a multitude of other frontlines throughout the world, who by the word of their testimony increase the harvest of souls.

Oftentimes the more traditional Catholics don’t get it… we look different, sound different, dress differently perhaps and sometimes we smell different, but we love God : which puts us on the same side!

Our Lady’s Message from Medjugorje ... May 25, 2026

Dear children,

may this time be for you a time of prayer and fasting. Return, little children, in love to God who is your peace. I am with you, little children, and I love you with my motherly tenderness.

Thank you for having responded to my call.

(With Ecclesiastical approval)

My Sheep Hear my Voice and they follow me

 

 

Anyone who takes their faith and the Christian mission seriously will ultimately face some form of conflict or persecution and find themselves in need of God’s guidance. Whilst I believe He always finds a way it’s a good policy to develop the practice of listening for the voice of God by entering into adoration or some form of meditation or silent prayer so when the crisis comes, which it will, your ears will be trained to hear. 

A few years ago my brother was in the Adoration Chapel at his local church, kneeling before the monstrance, earnestly seeking God’s guidance in his predicament. Just then his phone beeped. It was a message which read “time to break out the blue paint” followed by a photograph of Hamish, a character from the movie Brave Heart with an orange beard, a blue face, and a large sharpened Axe. 

I know this because I sent the text message. I was 12,000 miles away in the Philippines having read the account of what was happening in his life and was pondering the situation myself in prayer when I felt prompted to send the text. It’s one of our favourite movies and I knew he would understand the meaning easily. It was necessary to resist and fight this particular corner. 

I had faced similar treatment from an employer 20 years before, so I could see the trajectory and the gas lighting techniques designed to wear people down into submission and resignation. That he worked for a Catholic charity made it more surprising (and a rather dreadful betrayal; they even employed an outside ‘consultant’ to orchestrate the assassination so as not to have blood on their hands). But I knew the architect of the scheme; a deceitful man seemingly hell bent on ruining 20 years of good work; many enemies of the church have infiltrated Catholic organisations with this in mind in similar fashion. 

The battle would ultimately seem to be lost; as was mine years before. But a sacrifice for what is right and proper, even if it costs you everything, is always worthwhile. There is no better place to stand than with God; as we stand with Him now, later He will stand with us at the victory parade in Heaven.

Gratitude, Thanksgiving (and favour)

 

Some time ago a guest Priest at our parish gave a homily about Thanksgiving and instructed us to make it a habit by thanking God for all He does for us each day and to continue for some months to establish the habit. I embarked on this journey the next day and kept a list at the back of my diary which I would add to each day, week and month. 

I started with the basic necessities of life; the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, shelter, clothes, jobs and income and then added things I identified as blessings as they were given. I noticed two things as time went on. Firstly that they were often of themselves rather ordinary; I remarked to my wife that most of them related to food that I particularly enjoyed ! The second thing I noticed was that I began to feel noticeably happier each day and much more observant of things which displayed the hand of God, behind the scenes, and wondered expectantly what would be next. The experiment of noting things down as they occurred made for a more intimate, personal daily experience of God. In a way it was like re-wiring the brain to focus on what is there rather than what is absent. The latter tends to produce the opposite fruits of a feeling of lack, impatience, abandonment and misery. 

Often it seemed that blessings arose through impeccable timing. Just last week I went to pay the electricity bill which presents little opportunity for a happy ending. Added to this as I arrived the payment centre was full, 30 people and only 2 cashiers. Here in the Philippines there is a pecking order. If you are over 60 you get your own cashier and a Priority number so generally it’s a bit quicker to get served. On this day I was the only over 60 and was served immediately ahead of the other 30 people although I arrived last (Matt 20:16) I was so delighted I could have moon-walked out at the end although I didn’t want to rub it in for the youngsters still in the queue! Favour seems a bit unfair. 

One other thing I did become aware of though was just how much of a back-log I have accrued in thanksgiving. The many years (decades really) where I was receiving far greater numbers of blessings and not even acknowledging them at all as coming from God. Worse I put any success down to my own efforts or merit which does not concur with the reality. So my next project is one of repentance for being ungrateful and to make a new list, a much longer one, for all the gifts I have received in advance of recognising them as such. And this too will increase my joy I know. Better late than never.

Our Lady's Message from Medjugorje.

 Our Lady's Message from Medjugorje. 

April 25, 2026

"Dear children,

I am praying for you and encourage you to a new life, a life in joy and prayer.

May the Holy Spirit fill you, little children, with joy so that you may be like a spring of pure and drinkable water; that you, little children, may be in God and with God missionaries of love and peace.

Your life is short here on earth and that is why I am with you to lead you towards Heaven.

Thank you for having responded to my call."

(With ecclesiastical approval)

St John Bosco's Visions of Hell .. Talk by Fr Ripperger