Dear Flame of Love Family,
This July, our hearts are filled with gratitude! What a gift to be both Catholic and American! As Americans, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding… One Nation, Under God. We thank God for the men and women who had the courage to establish this great nation and for all those who have faithfully defended the freedoms we enjoy today. We continue to pray that the United States will always remain one nation under God, seeking His truth and living according to His holy will.
This Fourth of July also marks the beginning of my third year serving as your National Coordinator alongside my husband, Ken. Looking back, we are overwhelmed with hope and faith for what the Father has done through this movement, through all of you. The cenacles continue to form across our country, more parishes and priests and religious are embracing this gift, and from what we see, the victory is already taking place! Just as Our Lady promises, she continues to give her Flame from heart to heart, drawing her children ever closer to Jesus.
As I reflected on these anniversaries and the state of our country, one question continued to return to my heart:
What is true freedom?
Our nation celebrates independence, but the Gospel reveals something even greater. The world tells us that freedom is found in relying on ourselves. Jesus teaches that authentic freedom is found in becoming dependent upon the Father. The more we surrender our lives to Him, the freer we become. His grace breaks the chains of fear, pride, and sin, allowing us to live as His beloved sons and daughters, according to who He created us to be. Freedom can only be found in Jesus, and now he comes to us through the Immaculate Heart!
How fitting that Independence Day occurs during the Month of the Precious Blood. Oh be still my heart!
Jesus said to Elizabeth:
“My Precious Blood warms up and sets into motion the frozen, paralyzed energy of your souls. I am pouring it out and will continue to pour it in all the men in the entire world inasmuch as they submit to the holy treatment of My divine hand. Allow Me to act within your soul. Why should you desire to remain men with coarse souls? If only you accepted to become divine, I would find My joy in you, and live with you.” (Diary, p. 186)
What an extraordinary invitation! Jesus desires to transform us and become one with Him. He asks us only to trust Him and allow Him to act.
I believe this is exactly why the Father has given us the Flame of Love for this moment in history. He entrusted this gift to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and she comes to us as our Mother, offering us her Flame. She pours the effect of grace of her Flame of Love into receptive hearts and faithfully authenticates this grace within each soul. In this way, she forms us as trusting children of the Father, leading us into an ever deeper union with Jesus. As we receive her gift and cooperate with this movement of grace, Satan is blinded, hearts are opened, families are renewed, and souls are drawn home to God.
Mary never asks us to keep this gift for ourselves. She asks us to pass her Flame from heart to heart. Make a declaration to spread this Flame! Invite someone to pray the Flame of Love Rosary. Begin a cenacle. Welcome the Pilgrim Virgin into you home. Share the Father’s gift with confidence, knowing that it is Mary who gives the grace, Mary who prepares each heart, and Mary who authenticates her Flame within every soul that welcomes it. We simply say “yes” and allow her to work through us.
As America begins its next 250 years, do we see ourselves, this country and the Flame of Love as a new beginning? Because we are and it is! My prayer is that we rediscover the source of true freedom. The renewal our nation longs for will not come through our own strength. It will come as more hearts become dependent upon God through the loving guidance of our Blessed Mother, who never ceases to lead her children to her Son.
May the Precious Blood of Jesus renew us this month. May Our Lady continue to ignite her Flame into countless hearts across our nation. And may each of us faithfully carry her Flame until every heart knows the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
We thank you and on behalf of the national apostolate we are sending our love and prayers through the Flame of Love of the IHM to you all. Happy 4th!
Jill & Ken Metz
National Director
Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – USA