August 17, 2014
Paul Through Asia Minor
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 16, 6 – 15:
Paul and his companions traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the Province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city. On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.
Our Lady asked me to compose a Prayer of Consecration to her and requested that people read it prayerfully.
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Mother Mary, so full of love for your children, I come to consecrate myself to your Immaculate Heart. I entrust to you my whole life, my mind and my will. May you dispose of me according to Jesus’ plan for my salvation. Impress in my heart a true love for Jesus, your Son, and for you, my dear Mother. Keep me humble of heart as you showed us by your shining example. Give me a renewed spirit of prayer and penance, a fervent love for the Church and the Holy Eucharist, and the fervour to spread the message of Jesus to all those I meet. May you cover me with your holy mantle, in order to preserve me from every sin and to help me practice the Christian virtues, especially purity. Help me, dearest Mother, to do the will of the Father every day. Amen.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I bless you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who walk with Me every day. Repent of all your sins so that you may receive all the graces you need to avoid the evil one and to live in union with Me. As you see from the reading Paul and his companions were always full of zeal to go to foreign countries and to proclaim the Good News to all those who were ready to listen. In Philippi, Paul taught a woman called Lydia and she believed and was baptized with her whole household. She was one who prayed regularly. She took Paul and his companions and gave them a place to sleep in her home and she fed them.
All those who work for Me, I want you to help them and make sure that they have a place to stay and food to eat. In helping them, you are helping Me, your Savior. I love you all and I call you all to help to bring many people to Me. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had a beautiful day on Saturday but it will be cool during the night.