The Five Stones
Summarising her overall message, advice, and wishes, and to underpin and support her five key themes of Peace, Faith, Conversion, Prayer, and Fasting, Our Lady in her messages gives us what may be described as five stones, similar in a way to the five stones David used to slay Goliath (1st Samuel, Chapter 17).
These five stones are essential for protecting our conversion, and in turn to aid the conversion and protection of others.
The five stones are:
- Prayer - Pray the Rosary every day, and pray it from the heart
- Holy Scripture - Read a passage from the Holy Bible every day and display the Holy Bible prominently in the family home
- Fasting - Fast on Wednesdays and Fridays (The best fast is bread and water)
- Confession - Attend the Holy Sacrament of Confession every month, especially on the first Saturday
- Holy Mass - Go to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass often, at least every Sunday, and receive the Eucharist worthily in a state of grace
To support and emphasise how critical these five stones are, here are just a small selection of some of the messages Our Lady has given us concerning their essentialness:
The Rosary
"Dear children! Today I invite you to begin to pray the rosary with a living faith. Only in that way will I be able to help you. You wish to receive graces, but you do not pray. I am not able to help you if you do not decide to begin. I invite you, dear children, to pray the rosary in such a way that it will be a commitment for you, achieved in joy. In this way, you will understand the reason for which I have been with you, for such a long time. I want to teach you to pray" -16th June 1986
"Dear children, I am calling you to prayer and complete surrender to God. You know that I love you and am coming here out of love, so I could show you the path of peace and salvation for your souls. I want you to obey me and not permit Satan to seduce you. Satan is very strong and therefore I wish you to dedicate your prayers to me, so that those who are under his influence may be saved. Give witness by your life; sacrifice your life for the salvation of the world. I am with you and am grateful to you, but in Heaven you shall receive the Father's reward, which He has promised to you. Therefore, dear children, do not be afraid. If you pray, Satan cannot injure you even a little, because you are God's children and He is watching over you. Pray and let the rosary always be in your hands as a sign to Satan that you belong to me." -25th February 1988
"The rosary, little children, is especially dear to me. Through the rosary open your heart to me and I am able to help you" -25th August 1997
Holy bible
"Dear children, today I ask you to read the Bible in your homes, every day. Put it in a very visible place in your home, that way it will encourage all to prayer" -1st March 1984
"I'm going to reveal a spiritual secret to you: if you want to be stronger than evil, make yourself a plan of personal prayer. Take a certain time in the morning, read a text from Holy Scripture, anchor the Divine word in your heart, and strive to live it during the day, particularly during the moment of trials. In this way, you will be stronger than evil." -19th April 1984
"My children, do not believe lying voices which speak to you about false things, false glitter. You, my children, return to the Scripture. I am looking at you with immeasurable love, and through God’s grace am making myself evident to you." -2nd February 2018
"By reading the Sacred Scripture you will discover Jesus' birth and the joy, as in the first days which Medjugorje gave to humanity. The history will be truth which, also today, repeats itself in you and around you" -25th November 2020
Fasting
"The Devil is trying to conquer us. Do not permit him. Keep the faith, fast and pray. I will be with you at every step" -16th November 1981
"Dear children! Today I call you to renew prayer and fasting with even greater enthusiasm until prayer becomes a joy for you. Little children, the one who prays is not afraid of the future and the one who fasts is not afraid of evil. Once again, I repeat to you: only through prayer and fasting can the wars be stopped, wars of your disbelief and fear for the future. I am with you and I am teaching you little children: In God is your peace and hope. So, draw closer to God and put Him in the first in your life. Thank you for having responded to my call." -25th January 2001
“Dear children! Pray with me for peace, because Satan wants war and hatred in hearts and peoples. Therefore, pray and sacrifice your days by fasting and penance, that God may give you peace. The future is at a crossroads, because modern man does not want God. That is why mankind is heading to perdition. You, little children, are my hope. Pray with me, that what I began in Fatima and here may be realised. Pray and witness peace in your surroundings, and be people of peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.” -25th January 2023
Confession
"Peace, Peace, Peace! Be reconciled! Only Peace. Make your peace with God and among yourselves. For that, it is necessary to believe, to pray, to fast, and to go to confession"- 26th June 1981
"One must invite people to go to Confession each month, especially the first Saturday. . . I have invited people to frequent Confession. . . Do what I have told you. They are numerous who do not observe it. Monthly Confession will be a remedy for the Church in the West. One must convey this message to the West." -6th August 1982
"May holy Confession be the first act of conversion for you, and then, dear children, decide for holiness. May your conversion and decision for holiness begin today and not tomorrow" -25th November 1998
"Work on and build peace through the Sacrament of Confession. Reconcile with God, little children, and you will see miracles around you." -25th November 2020
Holy Mass & Communion
"My children, I wish that the holy mass be for you the gift of the day. Attend it, wish for it to begin. Jesus gives himself to you during the mass. Thus, look forward to that moment when you are cleansed. Pray very much so that the Holy Spirit will renew your parish. If people attend mass with lukewarmness, they will return to their homes cold, and with an empty heart." -30th March 1984
"Do not feel weak, alone or abandoned. Along with faith, prayer and love climb to the hill of salvation. May the Mass, the most exalted and most powerful act of your prayer, be the centre of your spiritual life. Believe and love, my children." -2nd August 2008
"I desire that by your example you help sinners regain their sight, enrich their poor souls and bring them back into my embrace. Therefore, pray, pray, fast and confess regularly. If receiving my Son in the Eucharist is the centre of your life than do not be afraid, you can do everything. I am with you. Every day I pray for the shepherds and I expect the same of you. Because, my children, without their guidance and strengthening through their blessing, you cannot do it. Thank you." -2nd June 2012
"I desire to call you to the Eucharist. May the Mass be the centre of your life. Especially, dear children, may the Eucharist be in your families. The family must attend the Holy Mass and give glory to Jesus. Jesus must be the centre of your life. Therefore, pray dear children; renew family prayer. Set out after Jesus." -15th June 2018