Saturday, October 20, 2012
My Thirty-day Retreat – Part 11
Dear Friends,
There are only these days written here of the retreat. It is always a boost for me to read what I wrote about the retreat. It brings me back to the experiences I had so many years ago. I will never forget these days in Jerusalem.
Father Melvin
P.S. – If any of you sends me a cheque please make it out to “Our Lady of P.E.I. Inc.” and not in my name. Thank you.
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18th May 1990 – Early this morning I had a period of prayer, and I began by reading 1 John 2, 18 – 29. Here we have the fourth condition to follow Jesus. We have to be on guard against the enemies of Christ. These people are those who don’t believe, and who do everything to carry off those who do believe. They deny Jesus and live in opposition to Him. So, I have to remain in union with Jesus and not be influenced by those ungodly people. We should pray for such people that they be converted and turn from their sinful ways. We must be on our guard not to be influenced by their ideas. Jesus tells me to follow Him every day, to make use of the graces He gives me, and to follow the resolutions I made. I have to pray daily for the Society.
I saw my director, Fr. Luc, for the last time this morning. He has confirmed that the Lord wants this Society. He does not see how it will develop, but He says to leave it in the hands of God. He also confirmed that the Holy Spirit has been guiding my retreat, and that it has been for me a very special retreat. Indeed I can thank God for all the graces and light I received during these 30 days. Fr. Luc says now is the time for ACTION. I will see the Superior General in Rome in a few days, and I will write a letter to the Regional in Zambia, and I will also write to Fr. Piet. At the end he gave me his blessing and said he would pray for me and the Society.
The end of the retreat
19th May 1990 – We are still in Jerusalem and this morning during my meditation I felt very near to Jesus. He spoke to me saying, “Always remain close to me. You must come every day to pray and be with Me. The members of the Society must also remain close to me. Their faith will be strengthened by the experience I talked about during the retreat. Pray for the Brothers and Sisters every day.”
At 7:30 we left by bus to visit the Negev, a desert south of Jerusalem. We went to Bersheba, a desert town of 100,000 people. We came home via the Dead Sea.
20th May 1990 – Meditation this morning was of one hour on the Priestly Prayer of Jesus. During this prayer Jesus spoke to me saying, “I love you, Melvin, I embrace you. You are my dearest Brother. I will always love you. You are privileged indeed to have the opportunity and the grace to pray for 30 days, to be so close to me all this time. I have blessed you and given you great graces for a complete renewal of your life, so that now you are a pioneer and free from all vices. Today I give you the gift of prayer so that you can come to me at any time and remain in deep prayer with me. Pray every day. Look forward to give the people the experience which will be of great importance to bring the people to me. Remember I love you.