Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Paul Imprisoned
Dear Friends,
Please read the passage below from the Acts of the Apostles (22:22-30):
They (the Jews) listened to him until he said this, but then they raised their voices and shouted, “Take such a one as this away from the earth. It is not right that he should live.” And as they were yelling and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the cohort commander ordered him to be brought into the compound and gave instruction that he be interrogated under the lash to determine the reason why they were making such an outcry against him. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion on duty, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and has not been tried?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the cohort commander and reported it, saying, “What are you going to do? This man is a Roman citizen.” Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered. The commander replied, “I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.” Paul said, “But I was born one.” At once those who were going to interrogate him backed away from him, and the commander became alarmed when he realized that he was a Roman citizen and that he had had him bound. The next day, wishing to determine the truth about why he was being accused by the Jews, he freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
I returned from the retreat in New Brunswick Sunday evening. It went very well and a good number of people attended and many were present for the Healing Mass. I rested yesterday after these three busy days. I am now awaiting the coming of Our Blessed Mother on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation. I will have a Healing Mass at the Little Shrine of Our Lady of Prince Edward Island on Friday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. and we will pray the rosary starting at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome.
(Below you will find 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. Melvin, you spent three great days at the Trappist Monastery in Rogersville, New Brunswick, where you gave a retreat and prayed with the people there. I blessed all those who came to this weekend.
One who worked hard to spread the Gospel was St. Paul, my great Apostle. At the end he suffered much at the hands of the Jews. They wanted to kill him but he was protected by soldiers. However, he was to end up in Rome where he was killed at the command of the Emperor of Rome. He was taken to Rome because he was a Roman citizen. He is highly favored by Me and My Church has great respect for him. He is one of the great saints of Rome. The other is St. Peter who was also killed in Rome by being crucified to a cross like I was. I ask you all to call on these two great saints to pray for you, for the Church and for unity in the Church. I want all Christians to accept the Pope of Rome as the successor of St. Peter and the head of the Church approved by Me. I love you all.”
Father Melvin