I have just had a meeting which was so utterly amazing that a part of me wants to keep this precious moment to myself, locked away in the privacy of my heart forever so that the wonderful feeling it has given me will never be lost. But you are my friends and that just wouldn’t be fair, so please allow me to share this extra special gift with you!

It all started a few months ago during my travels when I had the extreme good fortune of bumping into a Bishop who, after shaking my hand in greeting, asked: “Immaculée, have you ever met the Pope?” I think I may have laughed silently, imagining myself, me, a poor girl from the little African village of Mataba, standing in the Vatican speaking face to face with His Holiness. I smiled at the bishop. “Oh no, sir,” I answered politely, “I’ve never met the Pope. And although I’ve always dreamed of doing so … I can’t imagine it ever happening.” The Bishop took me by the arm and pulled me aside. “Immaculée,” he said earnestly, “You simply must meet the Pope … you absolutely have to! Pray for it to happen!”

I told the Bishop I would love to meet the Pope, but that I knew that the Pope was very busy and had many important demands on his time. If I was going to get on my knees and pray to God to help me meet the Pope, I’d need a good reason to justify such a meeting. “Immaculée,” the Bishop said kindly. “We Catholic priests bless instruments of our faith all the time; we bless crucifixes, scapulars, and rosaries, just to name a few. You yourself are such an instrument … a living instrument, you are on an important mission to share God’s message of love and forgiveness. Don’t you think it makes sense for the head of the Church to bless you?” The Bishop’s words touched my heart and I immediately began to pray to the Blessed Mother every day, asking her to intercede on my behalf to help me meet the Pope!

Well, just few months later–on September 2nd—my prayers were answered! I was at a speaking engagement in Rome when the group I was addressing was granted an audience with the Pope. Unexpectedly someone told me that the Pope would be happy to meet me! I felt dizzy. My brained screamed: “How does the Pope even know who I am!?” But my mouth answered humbly, “Yes, I would love to meet the Pope with all my heart!” I couldn’t sleep at all that night! The next morning I went to the Vatican as part of the group, but was one of only a handful selected to have a one-on-one meeting with the Pope. And before I knew what was happening, I was there, standing in front of him and completely immersed in the incredible sense of peace and wellbeing this gentle servant of God seems to bestow on all those he greets. No wonder they call him His Holiness!

We spent less than five minutes together, a period of time that simultaneously seemed to last an eternity and be over in the blink of an eye. In those few moments the Pope put me completely at ease. He smiled kindly at me, blessed my rosary, blessed me personally, and then encouraged me to continue with my work! Today I pass those blessings along to you, my dear friends, hoping you share this wonderful sense of purpose and joy I carry in my heart. Also, having now met His Holiness, I can assure you that he is a true shepherd to his flock and that he includes each and every one of you in his prayers … I humbly ask you to include him in yours.

Rooting for you always,

Immaculée

I was talking a friend who attended my recent retreat in New York City who told what affected him most deeply at the event was the time we spent praying the rosary together! He confided to me that, “I had always found saying the rosary rather tedious … but when I heard it prayed with such love and passion, the life of Jesus suddenly became very real for me. For the first time the rosary brought Christ close to me in a very personal way. Jesus’s life and love came alive to me deep within my heart!”

Padre Pio use to call the Rosary, “Our weapon against the devil!” Others called it, “The rope that bends heaven toward earth.” The Rosary truly is a gift from God to mankind. Our Lady has often told us that when we pray the Rosary from our heart nothing is impossible and no prayer will be left unanswered.

I heard that St. Dominic, who has long been credited with introducing the Rosary to the world centuries ago, was once performing an exorcism when demons he was casting out told him, “Now that we are forced to speak the truth, we are compelled to tell you this: Nobody who perseveres in saying the Rosary will be damned, because She (The Virgin Mary) obtains for her servants the grace of true contrition for their sins and by means of this, they obtain God’s forgiveness and mercy.”

I have seen the blessing of the Rosary in the lives of so many people I have met. Just the other day someone struggling with a relationship asked me if I knew of a married couple (besides my parents!) who was truly happy in their love. Without hesitation I described a husband and wife who I knew for many, many years and who, despite many tragedies and challenges in their lives, had spent every day of their 45 year marriage happily devoted to each other and joyously in love. The lived in perfect h armony, filled with mutual respect, and enjoyed each other’s company so much they played together like children in their free time. Their children assured me their parent’s relationship had always been like that. I asked them what their secret recipe for happiness was and they told me they prayed the Rosary together every night for 45 years. The love they prayed the Rosary with brought them closer to Jesus, and that brought them closer to each other.

Praying the Rosary every night for 45 years may seem excessive, but is it? I once heard that during an apparition, Our Lady heard complaints from some people saying the Rosary took too long. The Blessed Mother replied, “How long do you spend with your friends?” they said, “As long as we can, hours, or days if possible – the time flies by when we are together.” Our Lady responded, “You see it is not a matter of time, it is a matter of LOVE!”

The Rosary itself is a beautiful summary of the New Testament’s account of the life of Jesus and Mary. By praying the Rosary we learn about how Jesus and his Mom lived and through that we can learn how to better live our own lives. And a daily praying of the Rosary is the surest way to remind ourselves how much we are truly LOVED.

During an apparition in Kibeho, Mary said, “Pray the Rosary not as Catholics, but as my children.” So, it doesn’t matter who you are or what church you attend–praying the Rosary will enrich your life! It is the greatest investment you will ever make because it only takes 20 minutes to pray an entire Rosary, yet the rewards are beyond your wildest dreams.

Praying for you,

Immaculee

For those who read my book, Left to Tell, you know how much the Rosary fed me during the time that I hid in the bathroom. Guess what…it was not by accident that I held to it so tightly. I knew its’ power and its’ promises long before! “You shall obtain all you ask of me by recitation of the Rosary” the Mother of God had revealed to us. It works for all! As the month of October dedicated to the rosary ends in few days, I would like to share with you few words about a prayer that saved my life.

The first time I really took this prayer seriously was when I was a teenager. I had just finished elementary school and was desperately looking for a scholarship to high school. Going to high school, meant a ticket to a better future for us, otherwise, we were doomed to a life of poverty and submission. Well, after a long wait and studying hard, I finally got the scholarship and was accepted into one of the best schools for girls in the country. That night, my father called the whole family and told them that he prayed the rosary for two years, every single night, so that I could receive that scholarship and to be sent to that specific school! I was happy beyond measure, but even more, I couldn’t believe that you can ask God for specific things through the rosary!

I started keeping one in my possession at all times and prayed it at night. My experience of trying to be faithful to the rosary, both then and now, has been invaluable to me. I pray the rosary for every need; I prayed it when I needed help to focus on my school, to pass an exam, when I had a problem with a friend, for peace, when I needed a job etc… Our worse temptation is to lose ho pe in the possibility of our dreams; it is not that we cannot find what we are looking for; it is that we get discouraged on the way to receive. The Rosary not only opens doors, but it seems to shoot the fire of passion into your soul and body!!

Somebody said that the rosary is a thread that bends heaven to earth. This powerful prayer trains our hearts to be compassionate, to forgive, and to be kind. Remember, God’s heart is not moved by our anger, bitterness, nor just by our pain, but by our love, our faith, and our humility. Don’t carry your struggles alone when you have help available to you. The rosary was given for our own good, in order to help us. Learn it, say it daily, and watch your problems melt away. God is a loving Father, He wants us to be happy!

Much love and blessings to you,

Immaculee

I have had miracles in my life through prayer, and I rejoice even more to hear another person share theirs! What is special about God’s love is that you have to share it with others, you can’t keep it. We must love each other as Our Lord instructed us and we have to encourage each other! In that spirit, I am sending you Tiffany’s testimony, with her permission, of a prayer answered, hoping it will encourage you especially to pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary!

“Dear Immaculee,

Love always,
Tiffany Wong”

Rooting for you,
Immaculee

Have you felt stressed and powerless in the face of a problem?

When I first came to the United States, I worked in Manhattan with United
Nations. I often wondered why everyone seemed to be in such a hurry. I
couldn’t figure out how everyone in the city could have so many urgent things
to do every day. Back home in my village in Rwanda we were laid back, we took
our time to do things, and we always had enough time. The word “Stress” didn’t
exist in our vocabulary, it was never needed.

Well, it didn’t take me long to fall into the style of my new
life in NYC. I started to run like everyone else, you could stretch the hours
but I still had things I couldn’t finish during the day. While I enjoyed my new
life, that new lifestyle came with a new feeling – stress! When I first felt
stress, I knew what it was, and I knew I never felt it before. When your legs
and fingers are behind the brain’s plans, you definitely feel stressed!

Once I was so stressed, I didn’t know what was wrong with me – I wanted to feel
calm and I couldn’t, I wanted to sleep and I couldn’t. I didn’t understand and
I started to develop fear of the unknown, a sickness I don’t have a name for.
Then I turned to God with all my might. I asked Him to take over. I told Him, I
was only going to play the role of man as I could, but whatever happens, I am
fine and I just don’t want to fear.

As I was ready to surrender all I was worried about, a song came from my heart
with only these words in the beginning, “Let Your Will Be Done, Not Mine But
Yours.” Then I thought about my children, who I was worried about, and these
words came into my heart, “With my children, Let Your Will Be Done too.”
Anything I ever worried about – my health, my future, my family, my sleep, my
work, I said “Let Your Will Be Done.” Slowly, it became a long song I never
heard before and I sang that song all the way home. I didn’t want to forget it,
so I wrote it down. My miracle was that when I got home, I realized that I
didn’t have fear of anything anymore, my joy was back.

My friends I sang it to have encouraged me to record it, and here it is for
you, with the hope that if you ever feel stressed, or powerless in the face of
a problem, or have a worry, that you will always remember that God has your
back and hand it to Him.

The song has three parts. The first part is the story, how it came to me, the
next part is the song with all I was offering, hoping you can offer all as well
and fill in the parts you want. The third part is a meditation prayer,
inviting you to let go and let God.

I hope it helps you as it has helped me.

Blessings,

Immaculée

After a recent event in Denver, I went to mass and I was really touched by one
of the priest’s stories. A month later, it still inspires me and I want to
share it with you:

Sometime ago, a young girl was in hospital and she lied to her parents and
everyone else about the reason why. In truth, she was hospitalized due to
complications from an abortion. When she was released from the hospital, she
had physically healed but her heart was still heavy; the pain of what happened,
the lies to the parents she loved dearly, and it was too much to bear so she
decided to talk to her mom about it, hoping for a relief. She called her
mother in her room, in tears she bore her soul, she told her what happened, how
she was so scared to disappoint them that made her lie. Her mother was
horrified at the news and as quick as she could get back her emotions together,
she told her daughter, “It is okay, it is okay, but it is the past now. We
don’t have to talk about this again, and we don’t have to tell anyone.”

Time passed, and they never talked about it again. One day the mother received
a letter from her daughter, “Mom, do you remember when I told you about me
having abortion? I am grateful you were not upset, but do you remember also
when you told me that we should not talk about it? Oh, mom if you only knew how
much I wanted to talk about it. I could have been better if you were angry at
me, mad and yelled, but more than anything, I just wanted to talk about it….”

The good priest said these words in tears and many in the church were crying as
well, including me. This story touched me in different ways – the compassion of
the priest who told the story inspired me to be the same. The loneliness of the
girl in her pain encouraged me to care and pray for everyone in pain. The story
told the importance of communication, to listen and to be listened to. I can’t
emphasize enough how important this is in every relationship, mother/daughter,
father/son, husband/wife etc … we must make an effort to talk and listen to
each other with love, care about their feelings and make time for others to
express themselves. It is in giving that we receive.

I remember a girl in my high school who was just so nice to everyone, without
doing much, everyone seemed to have peace around her, so one time I approached
her to ask her what was her secret of making everyone feel so good
around her. She told me, “My mom told me to always look people in the eyes of
the one who is talking to me and make every effort to listen to them with
interest, like what they were saying mattered to me as they matter to that
person. It is the best gift you can give anyone, the best way you can show love
and the best way to give peace to another’s heart. To let them know that what
they think, what they say matter.” I never forgot it, and I hope you won’t
either.

Blessings to you,
Immaculee

P.S. Looking forward to the weekend in LaFayette.

Last weekend I spoke at a Men’s Leadership Conference; a great experience!
While I have spoken to groups hundreds of times, this was only the 3rd time I
spoke to an audience of just men, 1200 men. When they introduced me, a
gentleman who did so, said that I was the first woman to speak to that group.
Then, I really got nervous, despite his good intentions! But as soon as I
started to speak, I could feel their willingness to put me at ease and all I
could see was the faces of my dad and my brothers. I shared with them my story
of surviving, my journey to forgive and healing. I also shared with them the
values of my father that got me through.

I told them about a story I have heard sometimes ago. I heard that the inside
of both a man’s and a woman’s heart is the same – like Jello; but the heart
coverings are different. That the cover of a woman’s heart is like a thin
membrane that is very flexible, sensitive and easy to hurt of you touch but it
heals quickly. On the other hand, a man’s membrane is made of something that is
as strong as metal. It doesn’t hurt so quickly but when it does, it doesn’t
heal as quickly as a woman’s. I could tell by their laughter that men seemed
to agree.

What I continue to learn about life is that we are so much alike at heart, not
only men or women, but all human kind, no matter where we come from. But in
some ways, we might process things differently, and that is a beautiful thing.
It allows us to practice virtue, understanding, patience, love, etc.

Needless to say, the men did make me feel comfortable and welcome, and I was
grateful. I was especially pleased to hear some of their comments after I
spoke. One man told me, “The hearts of men were softened today.” Another one
said “I will never think of forgiveness the same way again. I am challenged to
be like your dad.” another said “I have been hurting for a long while for a
situation in my family, but I guess things can get worse, I am going to
consider the good side of my life.”

Mother Theresa said, “There is more hunger in this world for love and
appreciation more than for bread.” As you read this, I challenge you to
appreciate people in your lives, especially our men. The wise men in my country
tell young ones who are about to get married, “If you want to know joy in your
married life, treat your wife like a queen, she will do anything for you.” And
the wise women tell the same to the young women, “If you want to know joy in
your married life, treat your husband like a king, he will do anything for
you!” We all can learn and decide to love and appreciate each other by
practicing it every day, every moment, and counting our blessings.

Immaculee

A friend recently asked me, “Which sins do you confess? Because I don’t have anything to confess; I don’t sin!” She added, “When I go to confession during Lent, I just end up justifying my sins to the priest.” After we had a good laugh, I realized she was serious! We then had a long conversation on the different ways we offend God and our brothers and sisters through our unkind judgments, lack of love, what we do and what we fail to do, etc. In the end she was aware that she sins more than she thought. We all sin, whether we do so knowingly in the moment, or realize it later. No one is perfect.

One thing that really made me think was how she said that she justifies her sins during confession. I wondered if maybe I do the same without realizing it. Repentance, like any other true apology to fellow human being, is supposed to be done with humility and without defense if we want it to accomplish the good it is intended to do. A true apology doesn’t justify itself, it focuses on the hurt of the one who is offended. Whether you are forgiven or not, a well expressed, true apology will free the offender.

I shared with you the book “30 Days of Taming Your Tongue: What you say (and DON’T SAY) will improve Your Relationships.” Because it has a special way of shedding light on our flaws for anyone who opens those pages, without making the reader feel accused and I didn’t want you to miss out those blessings. I love its subtitle most. When you decide to better yourself, to improve, or follow God’s instructions more honestly, it is always for your own good.

I believe this book can bring a lot of peace if we put its messages in practice, in our homes, work places, our relationship and our hearts! They are 30 types of tongues to fast from, I will name few for your reflection: “The Lying Tongue; The Manipulating Tongue; The Divisive Tongue; The Argumentative Tongue; The Self-Deprecating Tongue; The Gossiping Tongue; The Cynical Tongue; The Know-it-All Tongue; The Harsh Tongue; The Rude Tongue; The Judgmental Tongue; The Complaining Tongue; The Accusing Tongue etc.!” Anything sound familiar? If it doesn’t teach you something about yourself, it will teach you how to deal and help those who are using those kind of tongues.

I keep you in my prayers,

Immaculée

When I was younger, I used to have a notebook that I filled with proverbs; I would read them over and over and - they were the food to my soul. I remember one about fasting that said “When the body is too satisfied, the mind is a little paralyzed.“ After reading that I made the connection that I didn’t seem to do as well on exams if I had eaten soon before the test. So I decided to practice fasting before exams to keep my mind alert. It really does make a difference!

During Lent I often think about why Jesus had to fast for 40 days - to get ready to save me and you. So He can earn us eternal life in heaven! What touches me deeply is to remember that He did it all willingly; He humbly went through so much suffering, unto death, so that you and I can have life.

When I try to understand His love for me, it makes me feel so good in my heart for being so loved, and it makes me want to do whatever He wants me to do to make Him smile at least. Won’t you? We all trust people who love us, is there anyone who loved us more? My friends, this Lent I challenge you to find out what Jesus wants of you and do it willingly, and with love. In your fasting, remember your mind is more alert to listen to and understand Him.

In doing so, I want to suggest something that might help. I recently read a book with a message that blew me away -“30 Days of Taming the Tongue“, I read it in one sitting and it was waaay too good! I went back to the store and bought every copy they had, and I started sending them to all my friends and family. Soon after, I called the publisher so I could have the book available for you in my online-store. The book describes of the flaws of our ways of communicating, how our words can impact others and how we can change. I am just grateful this book was written. This book is perfect for LENT! It is a book you don’t want to read alone, but want to share with your family and friends.  Our tongues hold so much power.

May you receive many, many blessings during this Lent! It is a time for blessings!

Immaculée

Where I grew up, we didn’t have TVs or computers or phones or cell phones to occupy us in our free time. So, we relied on stories told by our parents and grandparents to learn about life or history. Though I remember many of the stories of my childhood, there is one story that is particularly memorable.

For a long time, a certain rabbit was smelling a nice perfume. He would say to himself, “I wish I knew where that perfume comes from.” One time he decided to search for the source of the sweet smell. He started running from one direction to another. The more he ran, the stronger the perfume smelled. He would increase the speed as the smell increased, hoping that he was about to reach it. After running many, many miles, he was too tired and dehydrated, and he lost all his strength. As he lay dying, his little head dropped in his chest, and he discovered the source of the perfume was coming from his own chest. It was too late.

Perhaps you spend time wishing to be like somebody else more than thanking God for who you are? Envying others’ accomplishments and successes or beauty or good talent more than focusing on what you have and finding ways to use and develop yourself to the maximum while you are still alive? Or you know somebody like that.

We have all been there — in small or big ways. That feeling is nothing to be ashamed of. We are in the world to learn from our mistakes and our weaknesses. However, don’t lose your time wishing to be another, raise them up, you will be raised up. The sweet perfume you are looking for, is right there in your heart, within your reach. Your efforts and God are enough! I have come to learn that we are all special and perfect in our own ways, and we must rejoice in the gift of life. We all have a purpose and we all have special, unique talents no one else has.Whenever you see the good of another, be happy for them, plant a seed of love, it will give fruits. Let them inspire you to do the best for yourself too. When we envy and let jealousy take hold,  we blocks our own blessings, because it distances God away from us and truly, there is enough. Love is always the best way. The one who loves wins always, sooner or later.

We tend to listen to discouragement. Please don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because you are not talented enough! Have you heard or seen the story of Susan Boyle, this can be you! If the desire is in your heart, if you judge it to be good and harmless to anyone else, go for it. After all it is God who gives strength, and His is unlimited and He loves you.

Dream on. Do your best. Especially keep your trust in the one who loves you to death! And if you are in a situation where you feel one door closing, there is always another ready to be open.

Rooting for you,

Immaculee