BLESSING OF JANUARY, 1^ST 2003, FIRST SATURDAY OF MONTH.
AT PRADO NUEVO. EL ESCORIAL (MADRID)

THE VIRGIN

I am going to bless you and I am going to give you an especial blessing for poor sinners.
Raise all your objects; all will be blessed with an especial blessing for poor sinners.
I bless you as the Father blesses you, through the Son and the Holy Spirit

COMMENTARY UPON MESSAGES

October 14^th 1981

"Say the Rosary with deep devotion; meditate a little while after each mystery" (the Virgin)

This wish of the Virgin, repeated a lot through the years in Her apparitions at Prado Nuevo, acquires an especial value in the year of the Rosary, which has been proclaimed by the Pope John Paul II from October 2002 to the same month 2003. "Dear brothers and sisters- the Pontiff has written- a prayer so easy and yet so rich truly deserves to be rediscovered by the Christian community. Let us do so, especially this year" 1

The same advice on meditating the mysteries given in the message is also given by the Pope in the document mentioned above; its purpose is achieving the best fruits when practising this Marian prayer. " The Rosary- he explains- as a "meditation" with Mary on Christ is a salutary contemplation. By immersing us in the mysteries of the Redeemer’s life, it ensures that what He has done and what the liturgy makes present is profoundly assimilated and shapes our existence" 2. And he suggests "After the announcement of the mystery and the proclamation of the word, it is fitting to pause and focus one’s attention for a suitable period of time on the mystery concerned, before moving into vocal prayer"3

God grant this voice to be heard and- as he underlines- may this appeal for renewing the devotion of the Rosary "not go unheard"! 4

"Pray, my children, a lot, for many souls are dammed because no one prayed for them".

"The White Lady" to the little shepherds of Fatima uttered a very similar request 5; it reminds us the sad reality of those souls who move away from God forever. This eternal destiny of theirs should not produce indifference in our hearts but sorrow for so many souls in situation of perdition; we should even entrust them to the divine mercy: "The Church cannot abandon man, for his "destiny", that is to say his election, calling, birth and death, salvation or perdition, is so closely and unbreakably linked with Christ"6. With respect to eternal salvation, we should remember that, according to the Gospel, the gate leading to the Kingdom of Heaven is narrow and the road is constricted; on the contrary, Jesus talks about the wide gate and the broad road that lead to destruction (Mt 7, 13-14). Let’s keep vigil to prepare our eternal destiny and let’s worry about our brother’s and sister’s.

"Pray for the Vicar of Christ, he is in a great danger"

A constant teaching in Prado Nuevo’s messages is the love for the Pope, Vicar of Jesus Christ, "the sweet Christ on earth" as Catherine of Siena named Him. The Lord promises Peter that he will be the firm rock of His Church: " And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it" (Mt 16,18) Loving the Pope and listening respectfully to his teachings are signs of good Catholics who regard the Roman Pontiff as the presence of Jesus Christ in this world. Despising his teachings and criticizing his person is to take part in the game played by the enemies of the Church and also to oppose oneself to the salvific project of the Redeemer who left Saint Peter and his legitimate successors as His representatives until the end of time. The Truth is in his voice; if we want to walk through the light in times of darkness, let’s receive the Pope’s orientations with respect and affection.

"Tell all of them that when the chapel will be built, I want it to be called "Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows"

This is the second time the Virgin asks for a chapel, and specifies the name to address Her in this place: "Our Lady of Sorrows", such a universal and ancient title that it was born in the Calvary by the Cross, where Mary shared the pains and sorrows of her Son, crucified for the salvation of men. This same title was referred to by the celestial Lady of Fatima at the time previously mentioned; therefore, there is clear link between the apparitions in El Escorial, with their own characteristics and notes, and those occurred in Portugal last century. Likewise, the Immaculate Heart is full of thorns because of man’s sins, whom She – as our Mother- loves so much. She said in Fatima: " God wants to establish the devotion to My Immaculate Heart (…) I will come to ask the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart" (Cova of Iria, June 13th 1917) She promises in this message at Prado Nuevo: "Come to this chapel to meditate My Son’s Passion. Tell everybody to get close to the Eucharist. I will be very grateful to them, and My Son will reward them in their death time". She adds in Her farewell: "fulfil my messages; pray and do penance" and She marks with a cross Luz Amparo’s forehead.

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1-"Rosarium Virginis Mariae", 43 (October 16^th 2002)

2-Ibid. 13.

3-Ibid, 31.

4-Ibid, 43.

5-"Pray, pray a lot and make many sacrifices for sinners, because many souls go to Hell because no one sacrificed and prayed for them" these were the Virgin’s words to the three children, on August 19^th, 1917.

6-John Paul II, "Redemptor Hominis", 14.