Uniqueness of Divine Appeals

A paraphrase of each day’s messages with theological commentaries
would have been one way to avoid the boredom which one is likely to
experience in reading through the text. Admittedly the repetition of
the core messages is boring to read but it underlines the importance
of what is revealed. The Lord said to Sr. Anna Ali, “My heart is broken.”
One way to console Him is to read and listen to what He has to say in
the messages. 

The reader will observe that unlike the revelations made to St.
Gertrude or St. Catherine of Siena in which one finds them asking
the Lord some searching questions, what we have here is not a
dialogue but dictation to Sr. Anna. For this reason one does not see
Sr. Anna’s questions/remarks in the entire text. She was only told,
“My daughter, ... do not hide what I tell you” (11th October 1987 -
Divine Appeal 18); “...make My Word echo throughout the whole
world” (22nd November 1987 - Divine Appeal 40). And again, “my
words will be printed and read and I will grant special graces” (7th
February 1988 - Divine Appeal 79).

The whole message has an apocalyptic undertone in the Pauline
sense of the word: “The Lord is coming soon” (Phil 4:5). Divine
Appeal 29th October 1987 observes “this is the apocalyptic hour.”
Whether the text should be read in this light or not depends on what
one thinks about “the end” (1 Cor. 15:23-24).

Although the revelations of the Divine Appeal were made in
a European milieu where most Catholic churches were and are 

still in use only on Sundays, there is no reason however to suggest 

that the Lord’s complaints and appeals are made only to Catholic 

churches in the continent of Europe. There are, for example, many 

Catholic churches in Africa and America that are open for prayers 

only on Sundays. It is this kind of situation that the Lord complains 

about: “I am so lonely in so many empty churches”. Jesus in the 

Tabernacle wants to be visited and adored (Divine Appeal of 15th 

and 25th December 1987; 23rd January 1988; 1st July 1988 - Divine

Appeals 55, 57, 75, 174).

Sr. Anna’s visions followed a sequence:

First she had a series of visions of Blessed Hosts at Porta Angelica,
Rome. On each occasion a miraculous Host appeared suspended in
the air parallel to a wall of the room.
The second apparition of Jesus remains the most remarkable for its
unique and stupendous nature.
The visions of the miraculous Hosts were followed a year after by
the appearance of Christ in tears of blood.
Throughout the messages the Lord talks about His “broken Heart”
and attributes the cause of His tears of blood to sacrilegious
communions – irreverent handling of the Holy Eucharist practiced
all over the world. The early Christians were warned about the
consequences of this abuse of the sacred Eucharist (1 Cor. 11:28-32;
St. Catherine of Sienna Dialogue).

For the purpose of easy reading, each message is numbered
beginning with Divine Appeal 1. Crucial statements are highlighted
in the messages but the reader is encouraged to read and reflect on
the various issues raised by the Lord.

Jude O. Mbukanna O.P.

London

15th January 1992