Messages from the Virgin Mary

On the occasion of the Virgin Mary's birthday which the Church celebrates on September 08, it is pertinent to recall the messages she conveyed to Veronica Leuken of New York city in a series of apparitions starting on June 18, 1970 on the grounds of St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Bayside.

For 25 years the Mother of God and her Divine Son would appear to this American visionary until 1995 when she passed away. Within that period over 300 messages were received most of which contained motherly advice and guidance in the face of contemporary problems affecting the faithfuls. Reproduced hereunder are a few of these divine statements called from "Pearls from Heaven", a publication of St. Michael's World Apostolate.

On angels. "They have been sent to you, they were given to you at the time of your birth and conception. My children, you have supernatural loved ones among you, the angels (June 4, 1977).

On heaven. "If I, my children, could open to you just for a few short moments the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven, how glorious would be your sufferings! How glorious would be all the trials of your life when you will be able to see beyond the gates of this glorious Kingdom of eternal life!" (May 10, 1972).

On hell. "You have but two final destinies: Heaven and hell. Know that satan will try to remove the reality of the existence of his kingdom, hell, from you. If he makes a farce of his existence among you, he will deceive you so that you will sin and remove yourself from the Spirit of light. And when you remove yourself from the Spirit of light, you remove yourself from eternal life in the kingdom of your Father, the most High God in Heaven" (February 01, 1975).

On the Holy Eucharist. "My Son is with you until the end of time. It is truly His Presence, His Real Presence, His Divine Presence, His Body and His Blood. Do not treat Him, with disrespect! Bow your knees, cover your head! Do not chew Him!" (June 08, 1974).

On the role of parents. "The greatest attack from satan are upon the young. All parents will be responsible for the fall of their children's soul". (March 18, 1973). "Pray constantly your Rosary, your heads of prayer to Heaven. Remain unified in your family lives. The institution of your country - the great foundation - is based on family life. Destroy the family and you destroy your country". (June 18, 1980).

On praying together. A family that prays together will stay together! Without God in your home there will be separation and discord. A home in their fight with Lucifer cannot survive without prayer and dedication to God". (June 18, 1979). "I give you the sacramental that are necessary for your protection in the days ahead: The Rosary of prayer, beads of prayer to heaven, pearls of prayer to Heaven; the scapular of faith to be worn constantly and never removed from your earthly body". (June 18, 1979).

On suffering. Accept all sufferings as My Son partook of the final dregs of the chalice of suffering, to open unto all mankind the treasures to be found in the spiritual kingdom. Your reward shall not be found on earth but in Paradise - the epitome of glory, with the angels. It is the only reward that man should strive for. All else is vanity and passing". (November 21, 1981).

On the great chastisement. "A great war will erupt suddenly, such as has not been seen from the beginning of creation. Countries shall disappear in moments from the face of the earth… "I come to you as a Protectress of peace. Unless you repent of your abortions, the murders of the unborn, and return to lives of prayer and contemplation of the mysteries of the Eternal Father, given by writings - the Bible, the Book of life and love - I cannot save you from the conflagration that lies ahead". (October 02, 1990).

The apparitions in New York are only one of the many miraculous events associated with the Mother of God occurring throughout the world in the last few decades. Their number and frequency have been unprecedented in the last 1,900 years of Christianity. As Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) commented in 1984. "Marian apparitions are multiplying all over the world. For example, reports are arriving from Africa and from other continents at the section of the Congregation that is competent to deal with such reports".

What could be the reason for these? Is it because the great chastisement prophesied by Mother Mary and the saints is about to come?