Signs of the Times  

  A GIFT OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OFMARY TO THE CHURCH IN OUR TIMES

  The Marian Movement of Priests is intimately connected with Fatima and its message.  On May 8, 1972, while praying in the Chapel of the Apparitions at Fatima, Rev. Fr. Stefano Gobbi, an Italian priest from Milan, felt an interior call to start the Marian Movement of Priests.  He had been praying for some priests who, besides having personally given up their own vocation, were attempting to organize themselves against the Church's authority.
    The MMP would rally around the Pope all the priests willing to accept Mary's invitation, and form with them a powerful cohort endowed with the strength that springs from silence, from prayer, from suffering, and from constant fidelity to one's duties.  More than 60,000 priests have already enrolled, including many cardinals and bishops.
      The MMP is Mary's gift to the Churh in our times, to comfort her in her great distress and help her children live, with trust and filial hope, the painful moments of the purification.  Having almost uscceeded in building a purely human civilization without God, obstinately close against any divine influence, mankind is rushing towards its own ruin, in danger of destroying itself within its own hands.
      So, with motherly solicitude, Our Lady intervenes, offers her children the sure refuge of Her Immaculate Heart and calls upon al priests, her beloved sons, to rally around her for the defense of the Church and the salvation of mankind.

     "But I have need of humble and courageous priests; ready to let themselves be laughted at, ready to let themselves be trampled on for me.  It will be through these priests, humble, laughed at and trampled on, that I will form the cohort tat will make it possible for me to bring to Jesus an innumerable number of children, now purified by the great tribulation."
                                                                         (MMP; 8-1-73, #10)

     Priests are its primary members; however, brother, sisters, and laypersons may seek enrollment as associate members and form their own cenacles-- write to MMP, Nat'l Headquarters, POB 8, St. Francis, ME 04774-0008



     Our theme this week will be messages of hope and healing and things to come from different visionaries from all over the world, Italy, Ireland, U.S., Spain, Medjugorje, Sweden, and more.  Fr. Gobbi just returned to Italy after visiting the U.S.in January where he spoke at many different churches (It is very significant that he is preaching in the U.S. now for his health does not allow him to travel widely as before) -- We will feature Fr. Gobbi first and following is an excerpt from his annual message to all the priests and cenacles (prayer groups) all over the world:

     "...After so many years, I come back to the U.S. to speak about the blessed Virgin Mary--to tell you about her love for you and give you her comfort.  I take her tenderness and give it to you, so that it may soothe your sufferings and the so many bloody open wounds!  Have courage!
      Brothers and sisters of the United States, we are living through these trying times because humanity has gotten away from God's virtue and has gone towrds atheism and materialism.  The trial has now arrived for all humanity.
      God is love, and away from God humanity is a desert.  Today, the United States is living life away from God, and away from God, life is always threatened.  Think about the millions of abortions done here.  This is, for your country, the largest wound.  God is communion.  Away from God, divisions sprad out in all places--between countries that spread vioence and terrorism.  The great trial is upon us, but BE NOT AFRAID....Our Lady teaches us to speak.  What language?  Our Lady says that we speak among ourselves very much, but pray very little.  We must pray alot and speak less.  THE ROSARY is the prayer, the weapon to use against Satan in these times.  Each rosary is a victory against the evil one and is very efficacious.  Mary prays with each of us when we pray the Rosary and our voice is completely united with hers.  With the Rosary, we can solve all problems--political and social.  In these times, I come to tell you to put this to the test:  pray the Rosary and you will see all of your problems solved!

  ....Another recommendation, my dearest children, is to be faithful to your clergy, because in these times of apostasy there is such a spread of errors.  The Magisterium of the Church keeps us in the TRUE FAITH and faith opens us up t hope.
HOPE IN THE ONE JESUS CHRIST--Son of the Father, Incarnate in the womb of Mary, the One who died on the Cross for our Redemption.  We have no other Savior but Jesus Christ Crucified, the ONLY salvation in these times.  Jesus Risen is here among us.  He will realize His Great Triumph when He comes again in glory.  Let us cry out to Him and invoke Him, like the Blessed Virgin Mary says in her messages: "COME, LORD JESUS!" and then let us walk together in happiness in the expectation of such future glory!  I give one hand to the Blessed Mother and the other one to you; let us walk together to meet Jesus Christ!..."