Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Jesus and Peter
Dear Friends,
Please read the passage below from the Gospel of St. John (21:15-19):
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
I will now continue my report on the pilgrimage to Europe. On Monday evening, April 16, we slept near the city of Padua in the north of Italy. The next morning we went to visit the Shrine to St. Anthony and we prayed at his tomb. I celebrated Holy Mass in one of the chapels of the shrine. We left the shrine around 10:30 a.m. for the city of Rome and we went to our hotel in the little town called Fiuggi outside of Rome. We stayed in this hotel for three days.
We got up early the next morning to go to the Vatican and to attend the General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI. It took a long time to get there because of the heavy traffic. The square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica was packed with people. We managed to enter the square and find a place to sit but it was far in the back. The Pope came out in his popemobile at 10:45 a.m. and traveled up and down the square blessing the people. He then took his place in front of St. Peter’s Basilica with many bishops. He spoke to us in Italian and his subject was prayer. I will continue the report tomorrow.
(You will find below the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words.)
“I bless you, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living in every country of the world. It was after My resurrection that I spoke to the Apostle Peter. I asked him three times if he loved me. He answered positively every time. You know that Peter denied Me three times after I was arrested. In order to wipe those sins away, I put the same question to him three times. By his answers he was freed from his sins.
I call you all to repent of your sins. You are all sinners and so you need to receive the Sacrament of Confession regularly. Through this sacrament of the Church, I absolve you from your sins with the help of the priest. Receive this sacrament at least once a month and you will receive the graces you need to do better in the future. I love you.”
Father Melvin