FIRST STEPS Background on the formation of The World Wide Prayer Group of Our Lady of Emmitsburg and the engagement of Ambassadors of Our Lady of Emmitsburg
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On October 12, 2008 the Archbishop of Baltimore disseminated a "Pastoral Advisory" concerning the private revelations occurring to Gianna Talone Sullivan. Since the time of that Advisory, Gianna Talone Sullivan has not given any new messages, from Our Lady of Emmitsburg or words of God the Father, to the world,even though the apparitions and locutions continue to occur to her privately.In addition, the Monthly Marian Prayer Group Meeting, during which the public apparitions of Our Lady of Emmitsburg occurred, has been suspended since that time.
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October 24, 2008 The Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret St. Anthony, Pray for us.
We Struggled To Understand From our first dramatic and life changing encounters with Our Lady of Emmitsburg, thirteen years ago, to this very day, we, Alan and Nikki Todd, the publishers of this site, continue to learn new things about Love, Life and spirituality, from Our Blessed Mother. We have learned that: * Our Lady of Emmitsburg exists. * Her work in Emmitsburg is God’s work. * God has a plan. * Absolutely nothing can happen without God’s permission. * And although we don’t often understand His ways we try to, “Trust in the LORD with all [our] heart”. Proverbs 3:5 * We have also learned there is a reason for everything, and to “Be not afraid” Isaiah 43:1-2.
Those foundational lessons are a tremendous gift to us, as they bring refuge in the storm. But even so, we struggle in our humanness. In particular, we struggled to understand why, in a world so confused; in a nation steeped in the culture of death; during a time when the very fiber of the sanctity of the family is under attack; as well as, the sanctity of human life itself; why did the Archdiocese of Baltimore act to essentially silence the messages of Our Lady of Emmitsburg, through Gianna Sullivan? Why would a movement, in the church, work to silence beautiful holy words from heaven, which help to deepen people’s relationship with God, during such dark and difficult times in our nation, the world, and the Church? In these times, it appears that we are often called to find reason in decisions that seem beyond reason. We struggled to understand, with our small finite minds, the ways of The Infinite God. As we read that the Marian Prayer Group Meeting, at Lynfield, was suspended, we continued to pray to have eyes to see and ears to hear what God wanted us to do next.
And then, during a conversation about Our Lady of Emmitsburg, the words of a beautiful Franciscan Sister from Africa, became a candle in the chaos, leading our hearts and minds onto a clear path. She told us a little story that has the potential to change the world. She began by saying:
“It’s always very sad when the people’s freedom to pray, in the way they choose, is restricted.”
Her deep dark almond eyes sparkled as she went on to relay the story .
“A number of years ago, in my country, we began to have a Charismatic Prayer Group meeting. In time, the crowds grew very large, multitudes began to come. The prayer group grew each month. Then, based on erroneous information, the bishop was forced to make a decision. He decided to stop the Charismatic Prayer Group from meeting. We were restricted from coming together to pray publicly. It’s always very sad when the people’s freedom to pray, in the way they choose, is restricted. However, we were obedient to the bishop. We did not meet publicly to pray together. But, our hearts burned with the fire of worship for God. So, we began to pray, just as we did at the prayer group, but privately in our homes. Then, we began to receive the gift of courage, Consequently, we began to invite our neighbors to join us. And after awhile, instead of 800 members praying at a Public Charismatic prayer group, we were given the gift of 800 private Charismatic Prayer Groups, each with growing members all over our country! The suspension became an incubator in which the prayer group grew beyond our wildest dreams. God had a plan. Sadly, the bishop died. But his successor, after seeing the good fruit that came from the private home Charismatic Prayer Groups lifted the suspension of the group from meeting publicly, on Pentecost Sunday. And now, the church of Africa is alive with Charismatic prayer and joy!” As Sister spoke, we knew the Holy Spirit was speaking through her and was giving us the remedy to the suspension of the 1st Sunday, Marian Prayer Group at Lynfield. We prayed about this conversation for a while…
Then…, a little analogy began to take shape in our hearts: We began to understand the Marian Prayer Group at Lynfield was like a large mirror that reflected God’s Love. The mirror has been permitted, at this time, to fall from its position, (in Maryland, US) and be broken, so that countless pieces will scatter everywhere. In this way, countless little mirrors, reflecting God’s love, may now be scattered all over the world !
It’s Time! Since 1989, Gianna Tallone Sullivan and her family have been subjected to some of the worst behaviors of human nature. They have been ridiculed, treated unfairly, treated with malice and mean spiritedness and have had to suffer through hateful and evil acts perpetrated against them. It has been a difficult mission, to say the least. They have endured all of this to help our Lady with her special plan in Emmitsburg. Now, it’s time for those of us, who have benefited from the messages, which have flowed from the apparitions at Emmitsburg, to bring forth the fruit of those messages to the world. * It’s time to lift the bushel basket from the Light that our Lady, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has planted within our hearts! * It’s time to bring what we have gained through the messages of Our Lady of Emmitsburg to the world, a world that is in such need of what we have been given. * It’s time to bring Our Lady of Emmitsburg’s plan to the world, in our own unique ways, ways that are as unique as the hundreds of pieces of a shattered mirror.
Therefore, we, Alan and Nikki Todd, are taking the first steps in organizing The World Wide Prayer Group of Our Lady of Emmitsburg, which will be promoted by a group called “Ambassadors of Our Lady of Emmitsburg”.
The World Wide Prayer Group of Our Lady of Emmitsburg is currently being set up as a prayer group whose participants pray privately for the intercession of Our Lady of Emmitsburg throughout the month. On the 1st Sunday of each month, participants all over the world, in the privacy of their own homes, will join together in private prayer services. In this powerful private prayer incubator, the seeds that have been planted by Our Lady of Emmitsburg will be enabled to grow. For details, scroll to the bottom of this article, or Click Here. In addition to the new prayer group, another group, Ambassadors of Our Lady of Emmitsburg is currently being set up. Members of this group are tasked with studying, reflecting upon, and living out; as well as, spreading the messages, which have flowed from the Emmitsburg apparitions, given to Gianna Talone Sullivan. It is also tasked with promoting the The World Wide Prayer Group of Our Lady of Emmitsburg. Each month, we will be providing Ambassadors with suggestions, materials and inspirations aiding in the effort of bringing these messages to the world. Because those who follow Our Lady of Emmitsburg are located all over the world, we will be utilizing Internet, email, US Postal mail to connect with members. We will also be utilizing new, easy, and free telephone technology that will allow us to personally interact with groups of people all over the world at the same time. For details, scroll to the bottom of this article, or Click Here.
These are the first steps. As the coming week(s) unfold, we will be adding more to these plans. Please check this site often, to stay updated.
As we have worked for Our Lady of Emmitsburg over these years, we have spoken to a great number of people who have expressed a desire to get more involved in spreading the messages of Our Lady of Emmitsburg, to you we once again say, “It’s time!” To those of you who have not verbalized a desire to get more involved in this effort, but have felt the tug of Our Lady of Emmitsburg in your heart to do so, we once again say, “It’s time!” For those of you who are just meeting Our Lady of Emmitsburg, we say WELCOME! Join us as we endeavor to bring messages of tremendous importance to the world, “Its time!” This is an EXCITING endeavor!!! All are welcome!!!
Some Necessary Words of Caution Finally, we must speak to you with some words of caution: Always remember that whenever individuals begin to build up the Kingdom of God on earth, the enemy wants to destroy the effort. Plan for all of this; be proactive by staying prayerful, and by doing all you can to stay in the state of grace. In this way, the Holy Spirit will guide you along the right paths. Flee from those who attempt to restrict your freedom, especially the freedom to pray in the manner you choose. God has given the gift of free will, no one has the lawful right to intrude. May God have mercy on those who do. Pray for them. Always remember, “Be not afraid”. Isaiah 43:1-2
Please, please, please, pray for us everyday, we will not succeed without prayer.
“Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, A place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive… Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true, Where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew… All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place…" ***
*** Excerpt from "All Are Welcome"; Author: Marty Haugen; Copyright: 1994 GIA Publications
For printable versions of this article, Click Here
Join us in what may become the most joyous and important work of your life!
The World Wide Prayer Group of Our Lady of Emmitsburg CLICK HERE
So fly away you evil spirits! The Lion of the Tribe of Juda, the Root of David has conquered. All the evil ones shall be silenced and cast into the Lion's mouth.
