Vatican Highlights The Queen of Peace’s Insistence that Satan Exists and Humanity is Facing “The Heavy Burden of Evil and Sin”

In the Vatican’s historic announcement on September 19, 2024 approving the devotion to the events at Medjugorje one overlooked aspect are the messages highlighted in the report that Satan and evil are real and active in the world today like never before.

They write: “The Heavy Burden of Evil and Sin“ At the same time, there is (in the messages) an insistent exhortation not to underestimate the gravity of evil and sin, and to take very seriously God’s call to fight against evil and the influence of Satan. Another frequent appeal is not to be frightened in the face of trials. Occasionally, it is announced that the present moment is a time of grace and a time of trial. Sometimes the latter element is expressed in very strong terms—as is the case, for example, when it is said that there is despair everywhere, that everything collapses, and so forth, and that these things are connected above all to the fact that many people lack faith and are distant from God. From this arises the call to offer to God all one’s suffering and difficulties so that they may bear the fruits of grace and inner consolation:

“I do not weep only because Jesus died, but because Jesus died giving his blood to the last drop for all people, yet many of my children do not want to derive any benefit from this” (1 April 1983).

“Look around you, dear children, and you will see how great is the sin that dominates this earth. So, pray that Jesus triumphs” (13 September 1984).

“Dear children, you know that I promised you an oasis of peace. But know that next to the oasis, there is the desert where Satan is lurking and trying to tempt each of you. Dear children, only through prayer can you overcome every influence of Satan in the place where you live. I am with you, but I cannot deprive you of your freedom” (7 August 1986).

“Wherever I go and where my Son is also with me, there Satan also joins. You have allowed him, without realizing it, to take over in you, to dominate you […]. Do not give in, my children! Wipe from my face the tears I shed seeing what you do. Look around you! Find time to approach God in the Church. Come into your Father’s house. Find time to gather as a family and plead for God’s grace. […] Do not look with scorn on the poor man begging you for a morsel of bread. Do not send him away from your full table. Help him! And God will also help you […]. You, my children, have forgotten all these things, and Satan has also contributed to this. Do not give in! […] I do not want to reproach you further; instead, I want to call you once again to prayer, fasting, and penance” (28 January 1987).

“Dear children, in a special way, I now call you all to prayer and renunciation. For, now as never before, Satan desires to seduce as many people as possible to the path of death and sin. Therefore, dear children, help my Immaculate Heart to triumph in a world of sin” (25 September 1991).

“Do not allow Satan to pull you around and do with you what he wants. I call on you to become responsible and determined, and to consecrate every day to God” (25 January 1998).

“Now, as never before, Satan wants to suffocate man and his soul with his contagious wind of hatred and unrest. In so many hearts, there is no joy because there is no God and no prayer. Hatred and war are growing day by day. I am calling you, my children, to begin anew, with enthusiasm, the path of holiness and love because I have come among you for this. Together, let us be love and forgiveness for all those who know and want to love only with human love and not with that immense love of God” (25 January 2015).

17. Our Lady points out an opportunity to end the war, but it requires the cooperation of Christians in giving the gift of their lives. This implies a strong call to responsibility: “You talk, but do not live. That is why, my children, this war is lasting so long. I call upon you to open yourselves to God and to live with God in your hearts […]. Dear children, I cannot help you if you do not live God’s commandments, if you do not live the Mass, and if you do not reject sin” (25 October 1993). Nonetheless, four months later, gratitude is expressed by emphasizing the value of believers’ cooperation: “All of you have helped me so that this war may end as soon as possible” (25 February 1994). The importance of believers’ cooperation also appears in other contexts: “You all, with your lives and your example, must cooperate in the work of salvation” (25 May 1996).