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March 08, 2026
Serpents, brood of vipers!
• Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!"' (Mt 27:27-29).
St Paul described his thorn in the flesh as an angel of Satan, allowed to beat him and stop him from getting too proud (2 Corinthians 12 : 7).
In the picture above, the sculptor Carmelo Puzzolo has presented Christ’s crown of thorns as a family of serpents, “a brood of vipers”.
• Dear children! My presence is a gift from God for all of you and an encouragement for conversion. Satan is strong and wants to put disorder and unrest in your hearts and thoughts. Therefore, you, little children, pray so that the Holy Spirit may lead you on the real way of joy and peace. I am with you and intercede before my Son for you. Thank you for having responded to my call. ” Medjugorje Message, May 25, 2016
Paul’s prayer: In my weakness, Lord, you are my strength; your grace is enough for me; your power is at its best when the thorns are piercing me.
March 07, 2026
Fr Svetozar Kraljević to lead UK retreat
• Fr Svetozar Kraljević OFM is booked to lead a retreat organised by the Medjugorje Apostolate of England and Wales.
The event will be held at the Kairos Centre in Roehampton, south-west London, 13th to 15th March 2026.
For further information and to book, contact Paul Spencer, pilgrimsofmary@hotmail.com