From the Spiritual Director

MEDJUGORJE
Apostolate for
England & Wales

A Message from Fr John McCaffery ofm

Dear Friend in the Medjugorje Apostolate,

I am sure there are many of you reflecting just now on how speedily time is passing, and now we are in August. Where has all the time gone? It catches up with all of us, and I am aware of this as I come towards my 77th year in a few weeks. I came across a quotation, I think it was from Einstein, who said “Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn: take a look around you whenever you have time and never forget everything and every person that has the least place in your heart.”

And this brings me to what I want to say. I feel it is now time to hand over the baton of Spiritual Director to someone else, someone much better equipped and with a love of Medjugorje. I have been on many pilgrimages to Medjugorje, met scores of wonderful people from different countries, heard hundreds of confessions and seen young and old at prayer, leaving me jealous because I am so far behind spiritually. The Good Lord has been very kind to me and since I have done little of consequence, I can at least offer Him my failures and fragilities.

The Virgin Mother has always had an important role in my life. I have been very fortunate in being able to visit the major Shrines throughout the world: Walsingham, Mexico, Jasna Gora, Lourdes, Fatima, Knock, and many others. But the one that holds the high place is that sacred spot where it says in the marble ‘Hic Verbum caro factum est’. At that spot Mary, the Virgin of Nazareth, bowed her head saying “I am the handmaid of the Lord”. It was here that our salvation began. God entered our world, because he loved us so much, and He is still in our midst. Mary keeps reminding us that we fail to appreciate His Love and His Presence.

My thanks to you all who have been such a cause of inspiration to me, for the prayers you have offered and for your patience and kindness towards me in countless ways, and in a special way I would like to thank Harry Dixon who has been so generous to me over the years, with many acts of thoughtfulness which I can never forget.

May I end with part of a prayer, written by Cardinal Comastri which says all I would like to say at this point.

‘Mary make me humble, make me obedient ‘unto the Cross’, make me one with Jesus, God descended from heaven to save me. O Mary, I entrust to you all those whom I have met and will meet on my journey of faith; illuminate our path, warm our hearts, and bring us finally to the house of Love and to the feast that will never end. Amen.

Asking for your continued prayers, and may God keep you all in his peace.
Father John Mc Caffery o.f.m.
6th August 2011