At the beginning of Advent, Our Lady comes to us with a mission, “The Most High has sent me to you to teach you prayer”. When Jesus prayed, his disciples were fascinated. One of them cried out, “Lord, teach us to pray”. Today Our Lady teaches us to pray as Jesus did.

Medjugorje is called to be Her school of prayer. The visionary Ivan shares his experience, “Our Lady invites us to the school of prayer. In the school of prayer there are no holidays. Whoever wants to pray better must pray more. To pray more is a personal decision and to pray better is a grace given to those who pray more”.

Our Lady teaches us that prayer is merciful love, that prayer saves the world. We can say that Our Lady is prayer. We are called to be like Her. In Her messages, She tells us, “You be prayer, you who from the very beginning said `yes` to my call” (February 25, 2014). „ Open your hearts to the grace which God is giving you through me, as a flower that opens to the warm rays of the sun. Be prayer and love for all those who are far from God and His love“ (April 25, 2014). “Be prayer and a reflection of God’s love for all those who are far from God and God’s commandments” (July 25, 2017). “Little children, do not permit that the wind of hatred and peacelessness rule in you and around you. You, little children, are called to be love and prayer“ (April 25, 2019).

Our Lady stretches out Her hands to God, and then stretches them out to us. Everything She receives from Him belongs to us, Her children. This is the attitude She teaches us to have in prayer. To receive graces from God and to be ready to serve as She did.

Throughout Her earthly life of joy and pain, Our Lady never lost sight of God; She was constantly immersed in God’s love. In spite of difficulties, perils, She persevered in prayer with only one desire – to accomplish all that the Father desired.

In her messages we find a call to pray without ceasing, to pray in the morning and in the evening. To pray to the Holy Spirit. To return to God by praying the Rosary. To pray the words of life by meditating on the Gospel. To adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to receive special graces. To pray at the foot of the Cross, to embrace suffering with Jesus and to know that this is the most powerful prayer. To stop evil and war by prayer and fasting. To change the world by prayer and love.

What is needed is both personal and communal prayer. In particular, She calls us to pray together in families. She tells us, “You alone can do nothing, but together with me you can stop evil and change this world. That is why I am with you to guide you to decide for conversion and life, and not for death“.

Our Lady leads us to Jesus, to reflect daily and to live the words of Jesus. Her invitation, “Decide for life and not for death” is an echo of the Gospel, where we read, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life“. When we walk away from the teachings of Jesus, we choose death.

With Mary, let us await the birth of Jesus by meditating on the Word of God so that Jesus may be born in our hearts and families. This is what our Teacher of Prayer desires.

Let us pray: Our Lady, with gratitude we surrender ourselves to your guidance. We look with fascination at your example of prayer in all the events of life. In joy and thanksgiving, in pain and suffering, in the mundanity of daily duties, make us more like you. Nothing and no one could stop you from doing the will of the Father. We ask you to teach us that. We are so much in need of your help. With you we choose life and conversion. In a special way we entrust to you those who consciously choose death. May your love touch them and lead them to conversion. We desire to help you with prayer, sacrifice, good works, so that all that the Heavenly Father desires through you may be accomplished. Amen.