CHAPTER 4

It is a plea from God for UNITY, FAITH AND LOVE. But more than this, it is a DEMAND that we have UNITY or ELSE. It seems that He has given up on the leaders of the Churches and is asking the LITTLE ONES, His children, to bring about this UNITY. At the same time, He makes it very clear that differences in Doctrine (different faiths) are very important to unity. Beyond this, God is also telling His children how to accomplish this UNITY.

There are many aspects to this message, and I will never be able to cover all of them. There is the location of the miracle: this in itself is a message. The priests and bishops involved seem to be hand-picked by God and there is a lesson here also, four bishops from four different Churches, Lazarist priests (priests of the Miraculous Medal). Mirna and her husband are a message in themselves (Catholic and Orthodox). The Icon is a lesson. The oil, the smell of Myron, the place where Nicolas bought the Icon, the Gate of Thomas, the House of Ananias, the Missionaries of Mercy, Father Paul-all these things are part of the message of Soufanieh.

The fact that many of the apparitions and ecstasies took place on the EVE of a feast day and not on the day itself is important. The Eastern Churches celebrate feasts on the EVE because the next day starts when the sun goes down. However, some of the apparitions took place on feast days that only the West recognizes, such as the feasts of the Miraculous .Medal, St. Joseph the Worker, etc. The oil (symbolizing graces offered by the Holy Spirit) coming from the Rosary has a great deal of significance. So many things to consider.

Where shall we start? In the very first message alone (Dec. 18, 1982), the words "My Children" is a lesson from the words of the Cross, "Woman, behold your son. ..Son, behold your mother." At that moment She became the mother of all mankind. Much could be said on this, but my pen would never stop. This is a great controversy between many Christians. The words "You know everything, and yet, you know nothing. Your knowledge is an imperfect knowledge" refers to the Bible. "To know everything" means that all that is needed to know is in the Bible, and all the Doctrine of the Church is true and complete. However, "you know nothing" refers to a complete and true understanding of the Bible and the Doctrine. This is still far from complete. This doesn't make Doctrine untrue. It only means our knowledge of it is very limited.

The words "His faith is in vain" comes from James 2:24. "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith also without works is dead." The use of the word "Emmanuel" instead of "Jesus" has a reason. It tells us Christ is God and that God is with us on earth. (Emmanuel means "God is with us.")

When Mary says, "I gave you more oil than you asked for:' She is confirming that She is the dispenser of graces, as also shown on the Miraculous Medal, a dispute among many Christian brothers. Look at the front side of the Miraculous Medal and see the hands of Mary. See the rays pouring out of them. Then figure it all out in your own mind.

"They very often do not go to pray" are words I could write a book on. "My house is a house of prayer." How many believe church is a gathering of believers and not a gathering of people to pray together? "Do not have love?" Well!

"As God knows me." Read Revelation, Chapter 12, and you will see that it was a sign in the sky of Mary and the Christ Child that was used by God to test the angels before the earth was ever created; before Mary was created. The rejection of Mary by a third part of the angels caused the angels in Heaven to be cast out. It is said that whatever God could have given to His Tabernacle (Mary), He would have. He could have given Her all the grace that is contained in all the people of the earth for all the history of the earth from Adam to the end of the world. If He could, He did. He could have given Her all the knowledge possible in humans. If He could, He did.

When we understand Mary, we will understand all that we will ever be able to understand of the mysteries of God. All that is good in the Kingdom is contained in Mary. As you can see, the first apparition, like all the rest, has a lot to say. In many of the apparitions, we find the exact same words in the book, THE IMITATION OF CHRIST by Thomas A. Kempis (if; in fact, he was the author). It seems to me, and also to Mirna, that God is pointing to the Miraculous Medal and to "The Imitation of Christ" as the two keys to unity of hearts and to a unity of the Churches.

Believe me, since my pen doesn't know when to stop, I could write a book on this first message. I must restrain myself, however, because you would never be able to follow everything to its logical conclusion. Therefore, I have decided to group the messages into categories all centered around God's call to a UNITED KINGDOM ON EARTH. First we learn that we know very little about God, YOU KNOW NOTHING. He teaches us that the Church should be one and only one, ONE CHURCH. He calls us to be an example to the Churches, OUR EXAMPLE.

He criticizes the Churches for their disunity, NOT LIKE THE ELDERS. He stresses faith and shows that what you believe is important, DOCTRINE IS IMPORTANT. In the messages we can surmise that pride caused the divisions. He teaches us how unity can come about by prayer and love, LOVE THEM TO UNITY. He promises that He will be with us to guide us, TRUST IN GOD. But that it will not be an easy road, CARRY YOUR CROSS. He commands us to teach all the world this unity .of love, TEACH MY GENERATION. There is a great complaint from Him that we always ask but never give, GIVE TO GOD. And He seems to be warning us that if we don't bring about this unity, He will, and we will not like His method, OR ELSE.

There is an old saying among those who study God. "No dogmatic definition can be changed, but no dogmatic definition exhausts the truth." I think that is what Mary is saying in Her first meeting with Mirna:

YOU KNOW EVERYTHING AND YET YOU KNOW NOTHING. YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS AN IMPERFECT KNOWLEDGE.

What has been declared as the "Doctrine of the Faith" is true, and therefore, "knowing everything"; however, it is not the whole truth, and, therefore, "an imperfect knowledge." St. Thomas wrote many volumes about Christ. Christ was happy with what he wrote; nonetheless, He showed him the whole truth in a vision. St. Thomas came out of the vision and tried to burn all his books, saying that they were nothing compared to the whole truth.

Perhaps all of us Christians have part of the truth about what makes up the "Kingdom," but the whole truth will bring about unity. ALL Christians have some truth. Let us get more.

Truth never changes, but our understanding does. One example of this is 'the evolution of the Creeds of the Church: Nicene, Constantinopolitan, and Apostles' Creeds. The Creed was a declaration of belief required at Baptism. It was never meant to be the whole truth of the Church but only a summary, something to pledge. As time went on, however, things were added to it because of different heretics. We find a type of Creed in Hebrews 3:1, 4:14, 10:23; Jude 3: 2 Thess. 2:15; Rom. 6:17; Col. 2:7; Eph. 4:5; and in Acts, As time went on creeds were developed by Justin the Martyr in the second century, Tertullian in 195, Hippolytus of Rome in 217, Origen, Firmilian of Caesarea, Eusebius, Irenaeus of Lyons, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, etc. None of these creeds were wrong, but none of them were the same.

Uniformity was needed, and so the Council of Nicaea was called in 325 to develop a Universal Creed. As time went on, things were added to this creed because of the new doctrines of heretics. The Constantinopolitan Creed was written in 381, and the words "from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary" were added. The Holy Spirit was declared the "lifegiver" as is also stated in the apparitions of Mirna. As time went on words like, "and the Son" were added; (the Greek Orthodox added "through the Son") then, "He descended into Hell"; and "the Communion of Saints"; and later, "Catholic"; (with a small "c" in some religions), and "Life Everlasting."

Even the words "Communion of Saints," although always believed, evolved into a greater and greater understanding until we now know it to be a complete sharing of the Body of Christ and its gifts with all the members of the Kingdom: on Earth, in Purgatory, and in Heaven. And so, I see the words "know everything" as meaning that all knowledge is in the Bible, but the words "Imperfect knowledge" mean that we don't completely know its significance.

Many things happened to prepare Mirna and Nicol for the message of UNITY. There was oil from her hands, the Icon, cures, a voice, "OPEN THE DOORS," an apparition on the day of the Miraculous Medal, a second apparition stressing faith and love, more cures, another apparition with a message of humility, and then the start of the messages of unity.

ESTABLISH CHURCH. I DID NOT SAY, 'BUILD A CHURCH: THE CHURCH WHICH JESUS ADOPTED IS ONE CHURCH, BECAUSE JESUS IS ONE. THE CHURCH IS GOD'S KINGDOM ON EARTH. HE WHO DIVIDED IT HAS SINNED. HE WHO IS HAPPY IN THESE DIVISIONS HAS ALSO SINNED. JESUS ESTABLISHED IT. IT WAS VERY SMALL. WHEN IT GREW IT BECAME DIVIDED. WHOEVER DIVIDED IT HAS NO LOVE. BE UNITED. DO NOT BE FRAGMENTED LIKE THE ELDERS. MY CHILDREN, BE UNITED. MY HEART IS WOUNDED. DO NOT ALLOW MY HEART TO BE DIVIDED BECAUSE OF YOUR DIVISIONS. THE CHURCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. HE WHO DIVIDED IT HAS SINNED. HE WHO IS HAPPY WITH THESE DIVISIONS HAS ALSO SINNED. THE UNITY OF YOUR HEARTS IS MY FEAST YOU ARE MY CHURCH, AND YOUR HEART BELONGS TO ME; UNLESS THAT HEART HAS CHOSEN TO FOLLOW ANOTHER GOD. I HAVE SAID: THE CHURCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. HE WHO DIVIDES IT HAS SINNED. AND HE WHO IS HAPPY IN ITS DIVISIONS HAS ALSO SINNED. TELL MY CHILDREN, I ASK FROM THEM UNITY. I DO NOT WANT IT FROM THOSE WHO ARE ONLY ACTING; PRETENDING TO WORK FOR UNITY.

There is no new theology in these lines, but for some, they might seem new. First of all, the messages say that God, not man, started the Church. The word "ADOPTED" is theologically correct. The Kingdom belonged to the Jews. They were God's children. They fell off the tree and we were grafted on. We are the adopted Sons of God. The words "ONE CHURCH" means that God did not find more than one Kingdom. To divide this Kingdom is a sin against God, not man. The message makes no mistake about saying that it was divided and it was wrong to do so. This history lesson is necessary for those people who still believe that there are many ways to Heaven and that it doesn't matter what Church you belong to. To be happy in these divisions is the same as saying you are content with them.

To not, work to unite them is the same as being happy with them. To not work for unity is to be sinning. The message makes it clear that those on top, bishops, keep us divided. God, who knows all things, also knows that unity will never come from them, because some of them are only pretending to work for unity. It must come from the little ones, you and me. "Through you I will educate [unite] my generation [the age of the Kingdom of Christ and Mary]."

Throughout history there have been many attempts by the bishops, the patriarches, and the pastors to bring about unity, especially in the last thirty years. You will see this clearly in later chapters. There have been meetings and talk, talk, talk, concession, concession, concession, but not one success at unity from the elders. It is no wonder God is angry.

We learn (although we should have already known) that Christ and Mary are wounded in their Hearts by these divisions. A lance pierced Christ's Heart, and we are doing it again. A sword pierced Mary's Heart, and we are doing it again.

In Mirna's letter to me she says: "Unity will not be achieved unless we unify our hearts. ..if we love each other as Christ has asked' us to do, then His Will be done, and we shall gather all the churches in One Church, called God's One House, and we shall all meet under one roof. ..God willing."

The little house of Nicolas and Mirna is not a church, but God seems to have set it up as an example of what churches, church life, and church love should be like. When Mary said, "OPEN THE DOORS AND DO NOT DEPRIVE ANYONE FROM SEEING ME,'" the home became like a little church. Everyday, all day and night, people come to pray. They pray alone, together, they sing, they love. There are rich and there are poor. No one asks about money, and no one cares. No money is ever taken for any reason whatsoever.

I AM NOT ASKING FOR MONEY TO BE GIVEN TO THE CHURCHES, NOR DISTRIBUTED TO THE POOR. I ASK FOR LOVE. THOSE WHO DISTRIBUTE THEIR MONEY TO THE CHURCHES AND THE POOR, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, ARE NOTHING. I SHALL VISIT HOMES MORE OFTEN, BECAUSE

THOSE WHO GO TO CHURCH, SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT GO TO PRAY. GIVE. DO NOT DEPRIVE ANYONE WHO ASKS.

This message is for Mirna's and Nicol's protection as well as an example to the churches. By not taking any money, they cannot be accused of starting a new religion and receiving what would otherwise go to the church and the poor. But even without the use of money, they are constantly helping the poor, the poor in body and in spirit.

Their doors are always open, and people come to pray, not to talk or be seen by others. How many churches do you know that are always open? How many people do you know that go to church simply to pray?

In my own parish in the United States, the priests (there are three) do not even live near the church. No one knows where they live. You cannot reach them by phone. You cannot enter the church to pray unless they are there. If you were dying and wanted the Last Rites, you would be out of luck. If priests spent more time in church, the doors could be open more often. Maybe that is too much to expect, but could they at least live there, so that the doors could be open sometimes.

There are many people asking for help, not just money, but spiritual help. They are never deprived of this kind of love at the little House of Soufanieh. If I give and make the receiver feel like a beggar, I have no love. If I give and let everyone know how good I am for giving, I have no love. If I give because it is required of me, I have no love. But if I love first, giving is the natural thing to do. Like the mother's love for her children and Christ's love for us, love should be so natural as to be expected.

I DID NOT COME TO SEPARATE. YOUR MARRIED LIFE SHALL STAY AS IT IS. ..LIVE YOUR LIFE, BUT LIFE SHOULD NOT STOP YOU FROM PRAYING. ..HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS PLACE. IN IT I SHALL BUILD MY KINGDOM AND MY PEACE. .. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND PRAY WITH FAITH. ..GO ABOUT YOUR LIFE AS A WIFE, MOTHER, SISTER.

Mirna is Catholic. Nicolas is Orthodox. She is a Lebanese. He is a Syrian. The Catholics and the Orthodox are fighting each other. The Lebanese and Syrians are fighting each other. But Nicol and Mirna live in perfect harmony with each other. They love, they pray, they believe together. It is from the example of this little family, these two people from divided religions, that unity will come about.

We at the bottom, we people, must show the elders how to love each other, how to put away our stupid differences, how to put away our criticisms, how to put away our nationalisms, and simply love each other because we are all God's children. In this house Catholic priests and Orthodox priests pray together. It seems so easy just to love God together. He is one and so should we be. Mirna again will have the last word.

"As my husband and I are one body in marriage, attuned together, so we are all one body of Christ, but not all attuned together."

These messages are not so gentle on priests and bishops as they are on the people. This is also true of many other true apparitions I have studied. It's very understandable too, if you think about it. The priest is Christ's' representative on earth. He is supposed to be the image of Christ. When the flock looks at him they should see a Christ-like man. What he does, what he says, what he teaches has great importance to the little ones.

DO NOT BE FRAGMENTED LIKE THE ELDERS. .. WOE TO HIM WHO REPRESENTS MY IMAGE AND SELLS MY BLOOD.. .IT IS EASIER FOR ME THAT AN INFIDEL BELIEVES IN MY NAME THAN THOSE WHO PRETEND TO HAVE FAITH AND LOVE, AND SWEAR BY MY NAME. ..PRAY FOR THOSE SINNERS WHO FORGIVE SINS IN MY NAME, AND YET, RENOUNCE MY MOTHER.. .I DO NOT WANT IT FROM THOSE WHO PRETEND THEY ARE WORKING FOR UNITY.

When you put all this together, you get the feeling God isn't happy. In fact, there seems to be a strong warning here. "Fragmented" we have already talked about, but this disunity isn't just church against church. It is also bishop against bishop, priest against priest within their own churches. Disobedience is a rampant disease among priests and bishops, in spite of their oath (SWEAR BY MY NAME) of obedience.

Why do they violate their oath? Power and money! "I don't need to listen to anyone. I am my own boss. I have a brain. I can understand things myself." These are the proud who want to be important, and they cause divisions. Money is another major reason. There is big money in religion, if those who handle it forget that they are the servants of their people. But very often they forget and sell Christ's blood. And, of course, every bishop or pastor in the world says he is working for ecumenism, but not one is willing to give up his seat of power for unity's sake. If only there were people today like Clement of Rome, 100 A.D.:

"Is there any man of noble mind among you? A man who is compassionate? A man overflowing with love? Then let such a one say, 'If it is I who am the cause of any disorder, friction, or division among you, I will remove myself. I will go away, anywhere You wish, and I will do anything the congregation says; only let there be peace between Christ's flock and their appointed clergy.' Anyone who does this will earn a great name for himself in Christ, and be sure of welcome anywhere [for the earth and everything in it is the Lord's]. Men who were truly citizens of Heaven-the citizenship that brings no regrets-have done such things in the past, and they will still do so today."

I hope and pray that is true, for without this kind of love, unity will never be achieved. We must pray for them. We must love them. We must encourage them to do just what St. Clement of Rome hoped for.

Mirna again:

"As for unity, it can only be achieved through prayer. What God is asking of us is difficult. It won't come unless the big ones give up their seats, their haughtiness, and their greed."

It must be noted that Mirna has no idea of how this unity will come about or when. She does know that it must come from the Bishops (big ones) and not the people. We, the people, however, can put on the pressure.

As you can readily see, that wouldn't work. It is not what the gospels teach, and it is not what the messages of Soufanieh say?

There are many reasons for the splits in the churches, mostly political, but the three biggest doctrinal differences are the CONCEPT OF CHURCH, THE TRINITY and MARY.

Regarding Mary, the differences are regarding the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption. The arguments on these subjects went on down through the ages. One group said that Christ was not God in his human form; therefore, Mary was not the Mother of God. Another group said that the Holy Spirit does not proceed from the Father and the Son, but from the Father only. Still another says that we shouldn't pray to Mary or the saints (called the Communion of Saints). Actually many of these opinions grew out of what is known as Iconoclasm. Few today believe in Iconoclasm, for it was mostly a political gimmick.

I think the average person in the street would say, "Who cares! These things are not important. God only wants love." If these things were not important. unity would be easy. We could have a united pluralism. But in the messages of the Apparition of Unity, God is very plain about the importance of these faiths. Regarding the TRINITY and MARY, He puts them together.

GOD SAVE ME, JESUS ENLIGHTEN ME, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY LIFE. ..I AM THE BEGINNING AND THE END. I AM THE TRUTH, THE FREEDOM, AND THE PEACE. ..I AM THE CREATOR. I CREATED HER [MARY] TO CREATE ME. REJOICE FOR HEAVEN IS REJOICING BECAUSE THE DAUGHTER OF THE FATHER, THE MOTHER OF GOD, AND THE BRIDE

OF THE SPIRIT IS BORN. ..MY DAUGHTER IS MY MOTHER FROM WHOM I WAS BORN. HE WHO HONORS HER HONORS ME. HE WHO DENIES HER DENIES ME. AND HE WHO ASKS FROM HER. RECEIVES. BECAUSE SHE IS MY MOTHER. .. PRAY FOR THOSE SINNERS WHO FORGIVE SINS IN MY NAME, AND YET, RENOUNCE MY MOTHER.

One of the dogmatic reasons for dividing the Kingdom was the idea of the Trinity being only symbolic of God and therefore Mary could not be the Mother of God. Acceptance of Mary as the Mother of God has ramifications. When we admit this, we admit that Christ is God. Unity implies that we all believe in the same God. If we don't know Him (who He is), how can we all believe the same?

The oil itself was a reason for division. There was great anger between the Eastern and Western Churches because one side was reconfirming with oil people who had already been confirmed. Confirmation is the receiving of the Holy Spirit. One side said only a bishop can give the sacrament, and the other side said priests could. (Today these reasons no longer exist.) One thing both sides agree on is that oil is an outward sign of the Holy Spirit. When Mary said, "Much less than what the Father endured" referring to Christ's Crucifixion, She verifies that Christ and the Father are one and the same in substance, essence, nature, divinity, immensity and eternity. There is only one God, but He has three beings, and they are all equal.

The holy chrism, which by apostolic tradition we use in Confirmation and Consecration of Priests and Bishops, is made up of olive oil mixed with balm. Besides representing the Holy Spirit, it represents meekness and humility. Balm, which sinks to the bottom of water, represents humility, and olive oil, which rises to the top of water, symbolizes meekness and mildness. These are the main outward signs of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, but it is truth with gentle love. "I am the truth." Christ is the truth. We must know Him, the Truth, the Word of God, and we must love Him. We must love the Truth. Part of that truth is hidden in the very first apparition. It is a truth that answers many questions of faith (of doctrine). The first apparition had no words because Mirna ran away. It didn't need any words. Maybe it said more than all the words. It happened on the feast day of the Miraculous Medal. Not only did it take place on that day but also on the exact hour. The timing says a great deal.

First of all, the Miraculous Medal is an Icon, a thing. Many miracles have happened by its use and continue to this day. It is a great devotion of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. On the back side of the Medal is a Cross and the letter "M" showing the participation of Mary with the Cross and with Christ, sharing in our redemption. It has the two Hearts of Jesus and Mary showing the inseparable union of the two hearts. This is all surrounded by twelve stars representing the Kingdom, the twelve Apostles, all those who enter the Kingdom.

On the front side of the Medal is a picture of Mary. She is standing on the world and the snake with rays pouring out of Her hands. The world is us and She is our Queen.

The snake is Satan, and She will crush his head. The rays are graces. Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary is the dispenser of the grace of God. Think about these things. Mirna's real name is "Mary," symbolically representing the real "Mary." Oil (the Holy Spirit) is pouring out of her hands also. Rays coming out of the picture of Mary on the Medal, and oil from both the Icon and Mirna's hands should be a great lesson. There is a doctrine (not accepted by all) that says all grace comes from God through Mary. Mary is the dispenser of Grace.

There is another aspect to the Miraculous Medal that cannot be overlooked. Most of the priests involved in the Miracle of Damascus are Lazarist Priests. St. Vincent's order in 1827 had a problem. It had two vicar generals. Leo XII named Pierre de Wailly sole superior general in 1827. A new chapel was blessed, and St. Vincent's relics were solemnly reiterated in 1830. That same year the Blessed Virgin gave the Miraculous Medal to St. Vincent's Daughters of Charity, in the person of St. Catherine Laboure at nearby Rue du Bac.

The message, "My heart will not be consumed for all my children:' suggests a shared redemption, and suggests that those outside the Kingdom will not share in Her Love. "My Generation" says we are Her children. "You are my daughter before being theirs:' also teaches us all these things. Also the words "salvation has come to be realized:' regarding the birth of Mary, implies Her birth started the process of salvation. The words "asks of Her receives" and "do not lose the prayers of those around you:' teach us the doctrine of the COMMUNION OF SAINTS. The "Communion of Saints" is the one large family of those in Heaven, those on Earth, and those in Purgatory, who share all things in common, all grace, all prayer, all sacrifice. Purgatory was stated in the apparition of March 24, 1983. "Pray for the inhabitants of the Upper sky and Earth."

Surrounding the image of Mary on the Miraculous Medal are the words "0 MARY, CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, PRAY FOR US WHO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEE." This, too, was a major cause of the divisions of the Kingdom. Some claimed Mary was freed from Original Sin at the moment Christ entered Her body. Others said she was conceived without sin in order to be a spotless temple of Christ. Those bits of dogma (faith we must believe) are being presented in these messages one after another. On March 24, 1983, the words: "My mission has come to an end, as in this night. .." means that the main mission of Mary was to say "Yes" to becoming the Mother of God, the Bride of the Holy Spirit. From that time on, God worked in Her.

Another bit of knowledge presented in these messages is on September 7, 1985 (the birth of Mary). The Father states that "salvation has come to be realized" in the birth of Mary. The beginning of God's salvation work started at the birth of Mary. This also seems to verify that the feast of Mary's birth, September 8th, is correct. I bring this up since it has been disputed recently.

Another belief that stands out in these apparitions is "entrance into the Kingdom." Of course, we all know that belief and baptism are required for membership in the Church. On the other hand, there is another way (not always accepted by everyone): "Baptism of Desire." When Mirna saw the "Beautiful Shining Mountain," she saw the Kingdom. Her strong wish to climb, to belong was symbolic of baptism of desire. When Christ said, "He who seeks Me, I shall imprint in him My image," He was stating the same doctrine. Again Mary appeared at Lourdes and said, "I am the Immaculate Conception." This brings up another question. The Immaculate Conception cannot be learned explicitly from Scripture. Who, then, has the right to declare it?

These are questions. that we, the people, must face because the elders will not. Christ said, "If you do not believe Me, believe the miracles I perform." Miracles are outward signs of the truth of divine revelation. Miracles were used by Elijah to confront the prophets of Baal, by Daniel with the Lions, by Christ and His disciples, and down through the ages by the saints of truth.

The words "but not in words only" of November 26, 1987, suggest that faith without works is dead. The same can be said for "bearing of the cross is inevitable. ..for everlasting life deserves these sufferings. ..etc."

The words, "The only most High" regarding Christ in the messages of May 31, 1984, teach us that Christ is equal to the Father in all things, and whatever could be predicated of one of the Persons of the Trinity could be predicated of the others.

Regarding "Pray for the inhabitants of the Upper sky and Earth," the best explanation for this is in one of the best selling books of the past ten years, (PURGATORY" by Fr. F:X. Schouppe, SJ. (TAN Books and Publishers, Inc.) .

Page One of Chapter One:

"Let us call to mind that the Holy Church of God, considered as a whole, is composed of three parts: The Church Militant, The Church Triumphant, and the Church Suffering or 'Purgatory.' This triple Church constitutes the mystical body of Jesus Christ, and the souls in Purgatory are no less His' members than are the faithful upon earth and the elect in Heaven. In the Gospel, the Church is ordinarily called the Kingdom of Heaven; now Purgatory, just as the heavenly and terrestrial Church, is a province of this vast kingdom."

The three sister Churches have incessant relations with each other, a continual communication which we call the COMMUNION OF SAINTS. These relations have no other object than to conduct souls to eternal glory, the final term to which all the elect tend. The three Churches mutually assist in peopling Heaven, which is the permanent city, the glorious Jerusalem.

Doctrine is important: the Communion of Saints, the Mother of God, the Trinity, Purgatory, the Holy Spirit, one Church, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, all these things are in the messages. For Protestants these will be very difficult, but for Catholics and Orthodox there is not one problem. I say this without reservation. Today there are only three points of Doctrine separating us: the action of the Holy Spirit in the soul, the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Son, and the Pope. If both sides would study what Thomas Aquinas taught (and not what Catholic theologians allege he taught), they would find there are no contradictions.

These divisions would have never happened if it were not for pride. Pride (on both sides of every dispute in history) was a major cause of divisions. If one had just said, "We don't always agree on this or that point, but you are my brother in Christ and I will always love you:' divisions would not have come about.

This pure lack of humility by our leaders created division. The messages of Soufanieh warn us not to repeat these mistakes. We must love even those who persecute us, even those who laugh at us. There have been many religious wars. Most didn't have to be. Love is the greatest of all swords. If Mother Teresa of Calcutta could only live long enough she would conquer the world.

DO GOOD TO EVILDOERS. DO NOT TREAT ANYONE BADLY. ..DO NOT INSULT THE PROUD PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO HUMILITY. THE HUMBLE IS

THIRSTY FOR THE REMARKS OF OTHERS TO CORRECT FAULTS. WHEREAS THE CORRUPT AND ARROGANT NEGLECTS, REVOLTS AND BECOMES HOSTILE. ..FORGIVENESS IS THE PREFERABLE THING. ..ENDURE AND FORGIVE... LET NOT YOUR PEACE DEPEND ON PEOPLE'S TONGUES, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD, AND CONSIDER YOURSELF LOWLY. ..HE WHO DOES NOT SEEK SATISFACTION FROM MANKIND, AND DOES NOT FEAR THEIR WRATH, ENJOYS THE TRUE PEACE, AND THAT WILL ONLY BE THROUGH ME. ..LIVE YOUR LIFE JOYFULLY AND INDEPENDENTLY. ..DO NOT HATE ANYONE, OTHERWISE YOUR HEART WILL BE BLINDED TO MY LOVE. LOVE EVERYONE JUST AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HATE, AND SPREAD RUMORS ABOUT YOU. IT IS THROUGH THEM THAT YOU WILL EARN GLORY.

There is a great lesson in these words. The truly humble person cannot be angered by insults or the opinions of others. He doesn't react to compliments. He gives without expecting anything from others. The only thing that matters is his relationship with God. He is so concerned with his love of God, he always welcomes advice (even done badly) to improve himself. The humble is only concerned with other people's feelings, never his own. No one can ever hate the truly humble. Hatred fades away. Love then becomes the sword of the fight for unity. We must love them and love them and love them until they are one.

We, the children of God, must bring about this unity. How? I have some ideas that I will present, but first we must pray and trust in God's help. Without the power of the Holy Spirit we can do nothing. I saw the power of prayer work in the Philippines. It toppled a government. The people didn't do it. Prayer did it. We must pray, work, and trust in God.

DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED. I AM WITH YOU. .. HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE MY CHILDREN WHEN THEY KNEEL AND IMPLORE. DO NOT BE AFRAID. I AM WITH YOU. ..DON'T CHOOSE YOUR OWN PATH, BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY CHOSEN IT FOR YOU. ..DO NOT SAY: "WHAT SHALL I DO?" BECAUSE THAT IS MY WORK. ADOPT FASTING AND PRAYER.

We cannot bring about unity. For one thousand years people have tried. Canon Lawyers cannot bring about unity in the government of the Church. Theologians cannot bring about unity of faith. But God can AND, He will bring about unity by using us as his servants. We must trust that He can. If we don't believe this, we will not work for it.

Trust that God can and will do it, or get out of the way because here I come with Nicol and Mirna and all who trust in God and want to do God's Will.

We cannot walk this road towards one faith, one religion, and one God without expecting many obstacles. In most cases as soon as we hit our head against the first real wall we will quit. I have learned throughout the years that the Devil is alive and well. If I am doing the right thing, something beautiful for God, as Mother Teresa would say, Satan will be there to try and stop me. If I am doing the wrong thing (or nothing at all), life will be simple.

I WAS CRUCIFIED FOR YOUR LOVE'S SAKE. I WANT ALL OF YOU TO ACCEPT AND CARRY YOUR CROSS FOR MY SAKE WITH OBEDIENCE,

LOVE, AND PATIENCE, AND AWAIT MY ARRIVAL. FOR HE WHO SHARES IN MY PAIN WILL SHARE IN MY GLORY. THERE IS NO SALVATION FOR THE SOUL EXCEPT THROUGH THE CROSS.. .THIS IS THE FOUNTAIN FROM WHICH EVERY SOUL SHALL QUENCH ITS THIRST.. .DO NOT BE TROUBLED BY EARTHLY THINGS, BECAUSE , THROUGH MY WOUNDS YOU SHALL EARN EVERLASTING LIFE. AND KNOW THAT THE BEARING OF THE CROSS IS INEVITABLE.

Nicol and Mirna have many crosses to bear. Five times already Mirna suffered the stigmata. Each time it gets worse. This last time (Easter 2001) she had 3 wounds in her head from the crown of thorns. She may have to suffer the wounds of Christ for this unity until it comes to pass. If she does, Nicol will suffer with her. Shall we leave it all up to them to carry the price of unity?

I think God is warning us that we will not find this easy, but we must go on because we must trust that He is there carrying the cross with us. Do not look for crosses, but when they come, accept them with joy.

The words "My generation" confused me at first. Thanks be to God, I have over the years been very dedicated to Mary, and I have studied a great deal. One thing I have learned is that this is the age of Mary. Not only that, but the age of Mary (Her final battle with Satan-the crushing of his head), started with the "Miraculous Medal," the same day of the start of the apparitions of Soufanieh. This is also the age of Christ. In Scripture when Christ says, "This generation will not pass away. ..etc.," He is speaking of the sixth and final age of mankind. History is divided into seven days, or ages, the last being the day of rest, or eternity in Heaven. We are living in the sixth or last day or last generation of mankind, known as the age of Christ's Kingdom, or His Generation. Mary and Christ are inseparable, and therefore, it is also the generation of Mary.

THROUGH YOU I WILL CONSTRUCT MY GENERATION.. .THROUGH YOU I WILL EDUCATE MY GENERATION. ..I WANT YOU TO ACCOMPLISH

YOUR MISSION, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT ENTER HEAVEN UNLESS YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED YOUR MISSION ON EARTH. ..MY PEACE, WHICH

IS IN YOUR HEART, SHALL BE A BLESSING TO YOU AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED WITH YOU. ..PRAY:

"MAY YOU COME TO ME AND RELIEVE ME, AND RELEASE MY CHAINS, AND GRANT ME FREEDOM BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU MY JOY IS NOT COMPLETE. WITHOUT YOU MY TABLE IS EMPTY."

THEN I SHALL COME TO SAY:

'HERE I COME, BECAUSE YOU HAVE CALLED ME. ..' FORGIVENESS IS THE MOST PREFERABLE THING."

Nicol and Mirna have a mission on earth. God is asking that she completes it before she can leave it. This mission is to educate the world about unity. He is asking us to help her. You don't have to see or know her to help her. All you have to do is work for UNITY in your own way. In this way you will have contributed to her, and God will bless you for it. I'm sure all who have worked for unity in the past (even before Mirna was born) have been greatly rewarded by God. But it has been mostly the elders who have tried and those who have tried have failed. Now, we, the people, must help them. We must educate the elders (without being disobedient to them) that we want unity, that we demand unity, that we demand it of them. So say to God, "Here I come." Say to the elders, "Here we come, the people of God. We are the Church, and we demand unity. We do not want to know who is at fault. We want to forgive."

Mirna said to me, "God sacrificed His life on the Cross for our sake, while we only love Him when He gives us what we ask of Him. ..peace can only be through the one Christ. We must, therefore, pray with insistence to put peace in our hearts and to remove hatred and selfishness from the hearts of His children, who are only His when in need and who sell Him off when He needs them."

What can I add to that except God's own words?

GIVE, DO NOT DEPRIVE ANYONE WHO ASKS FOR HELP. ..MY PEACE I GAVE TO YOU, BUT YOU, WHAT HAVE YOU GIVEN ME? ..I GIVE YOU ALL MY TIME. GIVE ME A PART OF YOURS. ..PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. ..MY FEAST IS WHEN I SEE ALL OF YOU GATHERED TOGETHER. YOUR PRAYER IS MY FEAST. YOUR FAITH IS MY FEAST: THE UNITY OF

YOUR HEARTS IS MY FEAST. ..GO IN PEACE AND TELL MY CHILDREN TO COME TO ME AT ALL TIMES.. .IS EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR LOVE OF

ME? ...PRAY FOR THOSE WHO FORGOT THE PROMISE THEY MADE TO ME. BECAUSE, THEY WILL SAY: "WHY DIDN'T I FEEL YOUR PRESENCE, LORD, WHEN YOU WERE WITH ME."... ALL I WANT IS TO GATHER TOGETHER ALL OF YOU IN ME AS I AM IN EACH ONE OF YOU.

This passage about "I didn't feel your presence" is very special to me. I have been fighting against some cults for years who think they are filled with the Holy Spirit because they "feel it."

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are very evident in the House of Soufanieh, and I never saw anyone get carried away in any sensualism. If we would stop thinking about what God can do for us and start thinking about what we can do for Him and His creatures, we would find true joy in life and in the life hereafter.

We would see how sweet is patience when compared with revenge, meekness compared with anger and vexation, humility compared with arrogance and ambition, liberality compared with avarice, charity compared with envy, sobriety compared with dissipation. This is joy. Regarding what people usually pray for? Think about it. He knows better than we do what we need before we ask. We should not only trust that He will take care of us, but trust that He will do it better than we could even imagine to ask.

Those (who want to "feel" God) had better be careful, for all the saints say that when we look for the miraculous, we find Satan, pretending to be an Angel of Light. Listen to the words of Padre Pio: "You are mistaken, greatly mistaken, when you want to measure the soul's love for its Creator by the delightful feelings it experiences in loving God. This kind of love belongs to those who are still spiritually immature, and it could prove fatal to a soul that abandons itself too fully to it. On the other hand, the love of those who have left this spiritual infancy behind them is a love which experiences neither taste nor delight in what is called the sensitive part of the soul.

"We have a sure sign that these people really love God when we observe their readiness to keep God's holy law; their constant watchfulness so that they may not fall into sin; their habitual desire to see the heavenly Father glorified, while losing no chance to spread the KINGDOM OF GOD as far as lies in their power; when we see them praying continually to God the Father in the same words of our divine Master: Our Father. ..Thy Kingdom come." (Padre Pio)

This little message, "OR ELSE:' probably does not mean much to anyone but me. I am sure Mirna, in her simplicity, takes it very personal and only meant for her. I see it much differently. I have just finished a book on prophecy. I compared over 104 approved prophecies about a coming chastisement. In all of these messages the same theme was put forth. There will come a chastisement (by God) in order to bring about ONE FAITH ON EARTH, ONE KINGDOM ON EARTH, THY KINGDOM COME. I think of this miracle as one last chance to avert this chastisement. Some say that 75% of the world will die. The messages of Mirna must be given this last chance to prevent it.

GO AND PREACH TO THE WORLD AND TELL THEM WITHOUT FEAR, THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK FOR UNITY.. .GO FORTH AND' ANNOUNCE THIS MESSAGE. ..WHEREVER YOU GO I WILL BE WITH YOU..

HE WHO ANNOUNCED MY SON, EMMANUEL, IS SAVED. HE WHO DOES NOT, HIS FAITH IS IN VAIN. ..YOU SHOULD SPEAK AT THE TOP OF YOUR VOICE THE WORD OF TRUTH ABOUT YOUR CREATOR SO MY POWER WILL BE SEEN IN YOU.

As Mirna suffered the agony of the crucified Christ, she said these words as she watched Christ be Crucified: "We are playing a comedy between each other. ..He is patient toward us... He wants to unify us by His Will. ..He can make it over our head. ..but He wants it to come from us."

"Announce" means to teach. Teach Christ. The gospel is the truth of Christ. If we don't teach the truth of Christ, (at least by example) our faith is in vain. If we just stay at home our faith is in vain. If we teach a false Christ, our faith is in vain. If we don't, God will. If God does, we will not like it.