Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka - Archbishop of Jos, Nigeria • January 1, 1999
This volume contains messages from Jesus and our Blessed Mother to Maureen Sweeney-Kyle from July 1, 1996 to December 12, 1998. The messages are those received after the printing of Heaven's Last Call to Humanity.
The messages contained here cover a wide range of subjects which should provide the interested reader with very many themes for reflection, meditation for Christian living aimed at growth in holiness. Subjects covered, to name a few, include abortion, angels, Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate. Others are Divine Love, Divine Mercy, the Eucharist, Holiness, Prayer and Sacrifice. Various teachings on the priesthood and many key virtues such as humility, surrender, meekness, trust, patience, forgiveness, obedience, faith, hope and compassion are also included. It is a book that should not be read at one sitting; it is one that should be prayerfully read and meditated upon for one's spiritual growth, section by section.
One great emphasis of Vatican II and a number of post-conciliar documents is the call of each of Christ's faithful to holiness of life which would transform the disciple of Jesus into a witness for the evangelization of the world. Besides this it must be borne in mind what the author of the epistle to the Hebrews declared on the importance of holiness when they wrote "...without holiness, no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12, 14). Intimacy with Jesus and His Mother through Divine Love and Holy Love will accelerate one's pace towards holiness. That is one dimension, the other being loving one's neighbor as we love ourselves.
It is true that the events happening in Elyria, Ohio have not been investigated by the Church as yet; the messages, however, are so simple yet deep and profound. The rate at which the messages are being received, at times thrice a day, yet rich in variety and profundity, could not possibly be the invention of a mere mortal. Without preempting any eventual final verdict there may be in the future, suffice it to say here that our arch-enemy, Satan could not possibly call ceaselessly for love of God and of neighbor, for prayer and sacrifice, for holiness of life, the frequent and worthy reception of the sacraments, and for the use of sacramentals.
In an encounter with Satan, he said this to Maureen: "...But you keep praying! Oh how I try to distract you! Don't you listen? And that Woman with Her grace! How can I oppose Her? She looks at me and I am defeated! Stop listening to Her. She tells you too much! You pray too much. You will never be happy if you keep praying so much." Maureen simply said: "DROP DEAD SATAN!" (October 22, 1998)
The messages concerning the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary are rich as they are varied. These must be studied. Heaven has given mighty promises for use of the devotional chaplet and scapular of the United Hearts requested. The Confraternity of the United Hearts that is soon to be initiated will exist, among other things, to propagate understanding of this revelation, its impact on personal holiness, and devotion to the United Hearts through this chaplet and scapular.
The messages on the revelation of the United Hearts are repeatedly given in various forms and aspects in this volume. It is a curious coincidence that the visions of Jesus and Mary to Maureen, which have now culminated in the message on the United Hearts, began in 1985. The phrase, the "Alliance of the Two Hearts" was used by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in September 1985 in a catechesis at the Vatican. This was taken up in the Philippines as a number of prominent Catholics agreed to have a symposium on that subject in Fatima in September 1986.
In a letter to Cardinal Sin of Manila, (the President of the Symposium on the Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary), the Holy Father made this declaration: "We can say that just as the mystery of Redemption began in the womb of the Virgin Mary, so did that splendid union of the Hearts of Christ and His Mother. From the very moment when the Word was made flesh beneath the Heart of Mary, there has existed under the influence of the Holy Spirit an enduring relationship of love between them. The Heart of the Mother has always followed the redemptive mission of Her Son. As Jesus hung on the Cross in completion of His salvific work, Simeon's prophecy foretelling the definitive alliance of the Hearts of the Son and of the Mother was fulfilled: "And a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2, 35) Indeed, the centurion's lance that pierced the side of Christ penetrated the Heart of His Sorrowful Mother, and sealed it in sacrificial love. Since the Hearts of Jesus and Mary are joined forever in love, we know that to be loved by the Son is also to be loved by His Mother..."
"It is my prayer," the Holy Father concluded, "that your initiative will make the Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary better understood and appreciated by the People of God and thus promote devotion to the Hearts of the Son and His Mother in our own day."
The teachings in this book on this subject of the United Hearts will no doubt enlighten many who read them. The book is also rich in teachings on various subjects that will contribute in no small measure to our daily pursuit of holiness especially by DAILY meditation on a section or two of the book.
Many messages end with the words, "MAKE THIS KNOWN." We hope this book will assist in doing just that and eventually help to transform lives.
BIOGRAPHY
MOST REV. (DR.) GABRIEL GONSUM GANAKA (O.F.R.),
CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF JOS
His Grace Most Rev. (Dr.) Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka was born 24th May 1937 in Pankshin, Plateau State Nigeria to the family of Pa Peter and Ma Cecilia Ganaka, both of blessed memory. He started his primary education at the Holy Cross School, Pankshin and completed at the Sacred Heart School, Shendam, while his secondary education took place at St. Theresaâ??s Minor Seminary, Ibadan, 1952 -1957. He studied Philosophy (1957-60) and Theology (1961-65) at SS Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Ibadan.
He was ordained at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Fatima Jos on 4th July, 1965. From that year, it was interesting to see in him what a combination of a high level of intellectual ability, hard work, humility, enthusiastic devotion to a vocation could do and have in fact done to His Grace Archbishop Ganaka to make him occupy challenging positions both within and outside this Archdiocese within the shortest possible time. He was indeed a charismatic figure.
Soon after his ordination, His Grace wasted no time in proceeding (the following year) to Pontifical Urban University, Rome for higher studies in Theology where he obtained the Licentiate in Theology (equivalent to a masters degree) in 1967 and a Doctorate in Theology in 1970.
With such a high degree of intellectual preparation and of course theological and spiritual initiation, it was no wonder that challenging appointments started rolling in, in quick succession. On his return to Nigeria in 1970, he served for only seven months in the (then) Diocese of Jos as Projects Secretary. Thereafter, he was seconded to the National Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Lagos where he held several positions again in quick succession: as Assistant Secretary Social Welfare Department, Assistant Secretary-General and Secretary-General, National Catholic Secretariat.
As a result of his rare-breed dedication to duty, faith in, and devotion to his vocation, and â?? most important â?? through the grace of God, Pope Paul VI appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Jos on 9th September 1973 at the age of 36, Acting Bishop on December 12, 1974 and substantive Bishop of Jos on February 2, 1975.
From then on, the challenges came knocking, and because God had prepared him for those challenges, he continued to prove more than equal to the tasks. Hence he made huge success of it when he was appointed by Pope Paul VI as a member of the congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and by Pope John Paul II as member of the Canon Law Review Commission and the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.
With his potentialities having been actualized at these fora, it was no wonder that his colleagues found him worthy to be elected as Vice-President and later (1985-88) as President Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. (C.B.C.N.)
A time came when Nigeria became too small for the intellectual, spiritual and indeed physical stature of this great son of Africa, and indeed of the world. Hence (between 1983-1987) â?? on election in Kinsasha (Zaire) he served as First Vice-President of the symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). His Grace relinquished this only to be saddled with the highest position in that organization by being elected its President for the period 1987-1990. As one of the key officers of SECAM he had the honour and privilege to represent the African Bishops at Several important events, including the World Day of Prayer for Peace, Assisi, October, 1986, the Millennium of Christianity in Russia in 1988 etc.
The above explains his having been widely traveled, having been to, at one time or another, Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, Niger, Ghana, Ivory Coast, India, Pakistan, U.S.A., Kenya, Tanzania, Togo, Zaire, Liberia, Russia, Senegal, Yugoslavia, and so forth. This partly explains the phenomenon by which His Grace spoke several languages. Besides English and Angas, he spoke Hausa, Goemai, Italian and French, and had a working knowledge of German. He was an avid reader and spent much of his leisure hours in his well-stocked library. His other hobbies were photography, classical music and lawn tennis.
Under him, the Archdiocese witnessed great strides in various aspects of development. The seventeen parishes he inherited in 1975 had risen to forty-six by the time he became an Archbishop in 1994. The Archdiocese now boasts of over half a million Catholics as against barely half of that figure in 1975, while Catechumens now number about 350,000. There were about 84 diocesan and religious priests 63 of whom were indigenous priests by 1994 as against about 10 in 1975. Also although there were only 12 Our Lady of Fatima Sisters (indigenous to the Archdiocese) in 1975, they number 43 today.
However, in 1995 Kafanchan was made a Diocese and Bauchi Apostolic Vicariate in 1996 which reduced the number of Priests in the Archdiocese of Jos to 74, only 2 are expatriates.
In December 1997, the Archbishop took ill and was flown to the United States of America for medical treatment. He collapsed and died suddenly on 11th Nov., 1999.
May his Soul rest in Peace. Amen.
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