Short Messages Can Say A Lot

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Time grows short. So do messages.

Take Medjugorje in Hercegovina, where the Virgin began to appear, according to a Vatican commission, in June of 1981, and apparently continues to, since 1988 issuing monthly messages through a seer named Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti (in addition occasional messages through two of the others who still receive apparitions).

The last official one, circulated by the parish (overseen by a special Vatican envoy) — January 25, 2024 — was just eight words.

A look back at the messages since 1988 reveals that it is among the shortest official monthly ones on record.+

Medjugorje Message February 25 2023 Marija | Sardegna Terra di Pace

Latest Medjugorje Message, January 25, 2024:

“Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer. ”

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That — in the hundreds of messages — beat one, last year, by two words:
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Medjugorje Message, March 25, 2023:

“Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer for you. ”

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The shortest? At the start of the Serbia-Croatia war that engulfed that region.

Medjugorje Message, October 25, 1991

“Dear children! Pray! Pray! Pray! ”
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Others, noted for their brevity through the last three decades:
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“Dear children! Today I desire to thank you for living my messages. I bless you all with my motherly blessing and I bring you all before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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“Dear children! Today I call you to prayer. The one who prays is not afraid of the future. Little children do not forget, I am with you and I love you all. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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“Dear children! This is a time of grace. That is why pray, pray, pray until you comprehend God’s love for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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Many mention war — and with it, the devil.
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“Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer, especially today when Satan wants war and hatred. I call you anew, little children: pray and fast that God may give you peace. Witness peace to every heart and be carriers of peace in this world without peace. I am with you and intercede before God for each of you. And you do not be afraid because the one who prays is not afraid of evil and has no hatred in the heart. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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Others remind us that we are in exile while on this earth.
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Medjugorje Message, July 25, 2000:

“Dear children! Do not forget that you are here on earth on the way to eternity and that your home is in Heaven. That is why, little children, be open to God’s love and leave egoism and sin. May your joy be only in discovering God in daily prayer. That is why, make good use of this time and pray, pray, pray; and God is near to you in prayer and through prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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“Dear children! With this message I call you anew to pray for peace. Particularly now when peace is in crisis, you be those who pray and bear witness to peace. Little children, be peace in this peaceless world. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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Medjugorje Message, December 25, 2003:+

“Dear children! Also today, I bless you all with my Son Jesus in my arms and I carry Him, who is the King of Peace, to you, that He grant you His peace. I am with you and I love you all, little children. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”

Medjugorje Message, December 25, 2010:+

“Dear children! Today, I and my Son desire to give you an abundance of joy and peace so that each of you may be a joyful carrier and witness of peace and joy in the places where you live. Little children, be a blessing and be peace. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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Medjugorje Message, March 25, 2012:+

“Dear children! Also today, with joy, I desire to give you my motherly blessing and to call you to prayer. May prayer become a need for you to grow more in holiness every day. Work more on your conversion because you are far away, little children. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
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We are told to find God in nature.
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“Dear children! Also today I am calling you to prayer, and may your heart, little children, open towards God as a flower opens towards the warmth of the sun. I am with you and I intercede for all of you. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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Medjugorje Message, December 25, 2012:

Our Lady came with little Jesus in her arms and she did not give a message, but little Jesus began to speak and said:
“I am your peace, live my commandments. ”
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Medjugorje Message, August 25, 2018:

“Dear children! This is a time of grace. Little children, pray more, speak less and permit God to lead you on the way of conversion. I am with you and love you with my motherly love. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”

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“Dear children! Winds of evil, hatred and peacelessness are blowing through the earth to destroy lives. That is why the Most High sent me to you, to lead you towards the way of peace and unity with God and people. You, little children, are my extended hands: pray, fast and offer sacrifices for peace – the treasure for which every heart yearns. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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And again:
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Medjugorje Message, January 25, 2024:

“Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer. ”
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Statistics for December, 2023 (Medjugorje parish):

(03.01.2024  from the parish bulletin:Number of Holy Communions: 66,000

Number of priests that concelebrated at Holy Masses: 1,523 (49 per day)

In the previous 2023, there have been 1,731,000 Holy Communions given in the church, and total of 42,647 priests that concelebrated at Holy Masses.)