The five pillars of conversion
The Virgin Mary came to Medjugorje to call the world to conversion and She mentioned the five pillars below.
1 – Prayer
“Pray, so prayer becomes your daily bread. Pray the Rosary every day and meditate the mysteries of the Rosary. Pray with your whole heart.ˮ
2 – Bible
“I call you to read the Bible every day in your homes and let it be in a visible place so as always to encourage you to read it and to pray.ˮ
3 – Fast
Fasting on bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays.
“Pray and fast, because that is the way to your purification. By fasting and renunciation, you will be stronger in faith.ˮ
4 – Confession
Monthly confession.
“Return to fasting and confession so as to overcome the evil in you and around you. May holy confession be the first act of conversion for you. Confession must give impulse to your faith.ˮ
5 – Holy Mass
“Let holy mass be your life. Understand that the church is God’s palace, the place in which I gather you and want to show you the way to God.
Jesus gives you His graces in the Mass. Consciously live the Holy Mass and let your coming to it be a joyful one.
By living Holy Mass each day, you will feel the need for holiness and you will grow in holiness.ˮ
Prayer Group
Definition
It is a group of people (friends) who pray together, who visit each other and exchange spiritual experiences.
The group represents a commitment and it makes it easier for members to remain faithful to prayer. The group promotes spiritual growth, because the experience of some enriches and illuminates the experience of others.
Purpose
Since the beginning of the apparitions, the Virgin Mary has asked to create prayer groups in Medjugorje and in all the parishes to form a chain of prayer around the world and thus help her to carry out the plan that God has entrusted to her.
She mentioned : “The purpose of the prayer group is not prayer, it is love! Prayer is the way to obtain loveˮ.
Formation
Two or three people are enough to form a prayer group, but the group can also bring more people together.
Several prayer groups around the world were formed by pilgrims from Medjugorje.
The Virgin Mary mentioned : “May your first prayer group be your familyˮ
Meeting
The meeting includes the prayer of the rosary, the reading of the Holy Scriptures, the celebration of mass (if a priest is present). It is desirable that the group be accompanied by a priest, but if it is not possible, the prayer meeting proceeds in simplicity.
The prayer group meets once or more times a week or month. The meeting lasts between an hour and an hour and a half.
Each member of the group should be active, participate in prayer and share their experiences. This is how the group can live and grow.
Rules
The Virgin Mary dictated to Jelena Vasilj the rules of the prayer group which was beginning to be formed.
While the six visionaries could see Our Lady in three dimensions, and spoke with her as in a normal conversation, Jelena could only hear Our Lady’s voice and saw her in a two dimensional interior way.
1 – Renounce all passions and inordinate desires. Avoid television, particularly evil programs, excessive sports, the unreasonable enjoyment of food and drink, alcohol, tobacco, etc.
2 – Abandon yourselves to God without any restrictions.
3 – Definitely eliminate all anguish. Whoever abandons himself to God does not have room in his heart for anguish. Difficulties will persist, but they will serve for spiritual growth and will render glory to God.
4 – Love your enemies. Banish from your heart, hatred, bitterness, pre-conceived judgments. Pray for your enemies and call the Divine blessing over them.
5 – Fast twice a week on bread and water. Reunite the group at least once a week.
6 – Devote at least three hours to prayer daily, of which at least, half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening. Holy Mass and the prayer of the Rosary are included in this time of prayer. Set aside moments of prayer in the course of the day, and each time that circumstances permit it, receive Holy Communion. Pray with great meditation.
7 – Be prudent because the devil tempts all those who have made a resolution to consecrate themselves to God, most particularly, those people. He will suggest to them that they are praying very much, they are fasting too much, that they must be like other young people and go in search of pleasures… Have them not listen to him, nor obey him.
8 – Pray very much for the Bishop and for those who are responsible for the Church. No less than half of their prayers and sacrifices must be devoted to this intention.