We have watched with saddened hearts as the number of loyal subscribers
has dwindled over the past two years. Because we are no longer publishing a
print issue, many feel donations are not necessary. They fail to realize the
importance of evangelizing on the web and the frequency we bring the Word of
God to all: Daily. We have watched as the very few appeals we've
made for financial help, not to mention the spiritual prayers we always
seek first and foremost, have fallen on deaf ears and stone-cold hearts.
The on-line publication the DAILY CATHOLIC, which we've made free to the
entire world, is one of the best Catholic publications anywhere. It's
there everyday. It's absolutely free. We do not try in any way to take
anyone away from another apostolate. In fact, we promote the others as well. We do not play that one-upsmanship game. We don't clamor to take benefactors away from Mother Angelica, or
any other Catholic services, be that service on-line or not.
We have asked for help, because we have believed for eight years, and
continue to believe and somehow know in our hearts, that the ministry and
apostolate of Mir-A-Call Center is not finished. Our Lord has instructed
us to expect changes, but to keep going forward.
Why does no one help?
Why do people erroneously believe that non-profit means something contrary
to its very definition?
Why do the people assume, incorrectly, that as a non-profit, we somehow
must be overwhelmed with volunteers, with financial assistance from around
the globe, and that my husband and I do little, if anything, to make the
ministry all that God seeks of it? The truth is that the ministry, which
began through the locutions to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart,
and continued through the tireless efforts of my husband, Mike, as editor
and executive director of the Center, has always been just the two of us.
It has been, as Mike often says, a "labor of love for Love" since day one.
God gave us a gift, a challenge, a cross. He asked us to use the gift and
to go out and spread the word to the entire world, to everyone without
exception. He challenged our faith, and continues to do so to this day.
He has been perfecting us in the way of perseverance, in the manner of
utter confidence in Him alone, while permitting us, as we are in our
current crisis, to feel what it is to be the poorest of the poor, the
shunned, unwanted, the disciples who are driven from place to place because
the "Good News" of the Gospel is not wanted, even by those who profess it,
but who, in truth, seek to live that "Good News" for their own benefit, and
not God's.
Now, God has brought us to that eleventh hour and counting.
Without your prayers, which must always be first, and without your
financial help, the apostolate of Mir-A-Call Center will end after nearly nine years that have
produced great fruits and conversions, which people from all over the world have written us
in testimony. But without the necessary funds to continue, no one can get blood from a turnip. Therefore
this ministry will simply fade from existence because no one cared anymore.
In not caring about the apostolate, which is God's, not ours, then we, as
God's servants and instruments, nothing more or less, the faithful of
Mary's little army, those who hunger for the Word, who hunger to know and
love Jesus better each day, will have failed their calling as well.
We are not in this thing for ourselves, but for Him, and because of Him,
for the entire world.
You suffer. You hurt. You are in financial straits as well. You have
illness, heartache, pains, anguish, and you see that it might just be
easier if you go along with the flow of the mainstream of today's society.
You have your cross to carry, and Mike and I, along with our sons, are the
first to acknowledge that before God.
However, for the Symphony of Suffering to be joined to the Eternal, Divine
Symphony, are we not obligated, through Love, to share those crosses with
one another in a holy way? Are we not also obligated, through Love, to do
more than merely "listen" and "sympathize"? Are we not, then, because of
Divine Love, obligated before God to reach out to one another? Are we not
commanded by God to live the Faith we've been given, which tells us over and
over that we must be there for one another in the good times as well as the
bad times, and to seek, at all times, to respect the other person and their
calling in life.
Mike and I have been called to evangelize in a specific way, and in doing
this, to surrender to God our all, to give up everything, in order to Trust
in Him for what we need.
Therefore, today, in this sharing, I come to tell you that without you in
the Symphony of Suffering, there will be many chords missing in the melody.
Without your help and encouragement and belief that this ministry is for
God and from God, then we shall have no choice but to cease the work. What
will we say to God when we come face to face with Him?
Did we try? Did we Trust in Him? Did we seek to do only His Will and
never our own? Did we not ask and beg as He asked and begged? Did we not
give everything, even to our children, for His Name's sake, only to be
scorned and ridiculed by many? Did we not seek to help ourselves, as He
also commands us in Scripture, seeking every recourse to maintain the
necessities of life for our sons, and then for ourselves? Did we not, in
the face of adversity, continue to praise His Holy Name and accept all
things as from His Divine Hand?
Did we not mourn, weep, cry out, and sigh with hearts overflowing with
concern for our son; and were not those things done with faith and in
utmost trust?
Did we not seek to inform His children of this situation, and in Love to
ask for their help - not because we are "different or special", but because
He sees each one of us and knows we are "special" to Him, and asks that we
all work together in unity of the Holy Spirit, to evangelize to all the world?
What will He say to us? What will He say to you?
I don't know. That is yet to come.
But in the Symphony of Suffering, I have come to understand from Our Lord
that it is in obedience that our melody is perfected, that it is in
humility that the chords are written, that it is in faith and hope and
trust and love that the melody is elevated, joined with the Cross of Our
Lord, and in the giving of ourselves totally, that the melody of suffering,
its full symphony, is joined with the Heavenly Chorus that eternally
praises the Holy Trinity.
Now, we must all ask ourselves?
Will I (we) be found wanting?
What, then, must I (we) do for Him?
He will tell me (you).
Will we listen?
Will we obey?
Therein lies our faith.
Therein lies our hope.
Therein lies the measure of our love.
Again, if you would like to help this ministry, in dire need of a transfusion, you can make a contribution by clicking on WE NEED YOUR HELP. Thank you and may God bless you.