Medjugorje & Our Lady Queen of Peace

Overview of Medjugorje

Since 1981, in a small village in Bosnia-Hercegovina named Medjugorje, the Blessed Virgin Mary has been appearing and giving messages to the world. She tells us that God has sent Her to our world and, these years she is spending with us are a time of Grace granted by God. In Her own words She tells us, "I have come to tell the world that God exists. He is the fullness of life, and to enjoy this fullness and peace, you must return to God".

Our Lady's mission is one of peace and love. She has come to earth to reeducate us and to help us convert and recenter our lives back to God. Our Lady's role has always been one of guiding people to Her Son, Jesus. What a fantastic opportunity we have before us! It is important that we understand both the magnitude and the urgency of Our Lady's call to conversion, and that we respond to it with all our hearts.

Our Lady continues to give messages to six young people from the village of Medjugorje: Ivan, Jakov, Marija, Mirjana, Vicka, and Ivanka. These six young people (referred to as "visionaries") have had apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary since June 24, 1981. In addition to these messages, Our Lady is to give each of the six visionaries a total of ten "secrets" or happenings that will occur on earth in the near future. Some of the secrets pertain to the whole world while others concern the visionaries themselves or their local village. Only one of the secrets so far has been revealed by the visionaries. Our Lady has promised to leave a supernatural, indestructable, and visible sign on the mountain where she first appeared. Our Lady said: "This sign will be given for the atheists. You faithful already have signs and you have become the sign for the atheists. You faithful must not wait for the sign before you convert; convert soon. This time is a time of grace for you. You can never thank God enough for His grace. The time is for deepening your faith and for your conversion. When the sign comes, it will be too late for many."

When each of the six visionaries has received all ten "secrets", Our Lady will stop appearing to them on a daily basis. Currently, Marija, Vicka, and Ivan have received nine secrets, and Our Lady still appears to them every day, wherever they are, at 5:40pm during daylight savings time, and 6:40pm the rest of the year, Medjugorje time. Mirjana, Jakov, and Ivanka have received all ten secrets, and Our Lady appears to them once per year, and will do so for the rest of their lives. For Ivanka who received her 10th secret on May 7, 1985 it is on the anniversary of the apparitions, June 25 each year. For Jakov who received his 10th secret on September 12, 1998, it is on Christmas day each year. And for Mirjana who received her 10th secret on Christmas 1982, it is on her birthday, March 18 each year. Our Lady has also been appearing to Mirjana on the 2nd of each month since August 2, 1987 for the express purpose of praying for all unbelievers. Mirjana tells us that it is very important that all of us pray for the unbelievers in the world, who are defined as those who do not yet know God's love. Sometimes these appearances on the 2nd of each month are in apparitional form, and sometimes as locutions. No one knows when Our Lady will give the tenth secret to Marija, Ivan, and Vicka.

There will then be three secrets revealed as warnings to the world. Mirjana will witness the warnings and they will ocurr on the earth. Ten days before each of the warnings, she will advise the priest of her choice (Father Petar Ljubicic), who will then fast and pray for seven days. Then, three days before the warning is to take place, he will announce to the world what, where, and when the warning is to take place. Fr. Petar has no choice and must reveal each warning. Mirjana's testimony will be a confirmation of the validity of the apparitions and an incentive for the conversion of the world. After the first warning, the others will follow within a rather brief period of time. So it is that people will have time for conversion. After the three warnings, the permanent visible sign will be left on the mountain where Our Lady first appeared in Medjugorje. Those who are still alive will have little time for conversion. For that reason, the Blessed Virgin calls for urgent conversion and reconciliation. The permanent sign will lead to many healings and conversions before the messages become reality.

The ninth and tenth secrets are grave matters. They are a chastisement for the sins of the world. The punishment is inevitable because we can not expect the conversion of the entire world. The chastisement can be lessened by prayers and penance, but it can not be suppressed entirely. An evil which threatened the world according to the seventh secret, had been eliminated through prayer and fasting. For that reason the Blessed Virgin continues to ask for prayer and fasting. The invitation to prayer and penance is destined to ward off evil and war and above all to save souls. Our Lady says: "You have forgotten that with prayer and fasting you can ward off wars, suspend natural laws."

Since the apparitions began in 1981, millions of people of all faiths, from all over the world, have visited Medjugorje and have left spiritually strengthened and renewed. Many bring back stories of miracles in the form of healings (of mind, body and soul), supernatural visual events, and deep conversions back to God. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones, to investigate with an open mind and heart the messages which are given to us by Our Lady of Medjugorje. I invite you to read these messages and decide for yourself how this messenger from Heaven will affect your life and that of your family.

It is important to note that Our Lady's messages are meant to be assembled like a mosaic. To understand the full meaning and depth of Our Lady's messages, we should read and put them all together. A single stone removed from a mosaic looks plain or ordinary, yet if we look at the whole mosaic, it is a rich and beautiful picture. "By means of the messages, I wish to make a very beautiful mosaic in your hearts." (November 25, 1989). Our Lady has asked that we continually read, study, and meditate on the messages which she has given us. She has said: "Little children, read everyday the messages I gave you and transform them into life. I love you and this is why I call you to the way of salvation with God." (December 25, 1989).

The technique of teaching which Our Lady uses, reeducates us to be Christians. She accomplishes this by walking with us and guiding us step by step, message by message. Today, many people think it is not important to be a Christian. Others want to live a superficial form of Christianity which is easier or more convenient than living a true Christian life. Our Lady wants to show us through Her messages the real face of Christianity. This is a very long process because we as a society have strayed far from the truth and God and are slow to learn. This is true both in the church and outside the church. We have to accept being totally reeducated, little by little, by the Mother of God. The problem with mankind is not so much that people have bad intentions, there are plenty of good hearted people. The problem is that we sometimes don't see the truth; we are in darkness, and many of us are just blind. We do not realize that we have put ourselves into the hands of Satan because we do not know how to tell the difference between right and wrong. Many of us become the image of Satan without even knowing it.

I don't think that anyone could argue, regardless of religious orientation, that today's world is in a state of crisis. All one has to do is read the newspaper or watch television to be see how eroded the morals of our world have become. It is shocking to see and hear of the examples of inhumanity, cruelty, violence, abuse, drugs, war, crime, etc., etc. Much of the world has strayed far from a life centered around God and family. The answers which we need to redirect our life can be found by reading and living Our Lady's messages and the Scriptures.

"You are ready to commit sin, and to put yourselves in the hands of Satan without reflecting." (May 25, 1987)

"Do not allow Satan to gain control of your hearts, so you would be an image of Satan and not of me." (January 30, 1986)

"Children, darkness reigns over the whole world. People are attracted by many things and they forget about the more important."

"Light won't reign in the world until people accept Jesus, until they live His words, which is the Word of the Gospel."

"Dear children, this is the reason for my presence among you for such a long time: to lead you on the path of Jesus. I want to save you and, through you, to save the whole world. Many people now live without faith; some don't even want to hear about Jesus, but they still want peace and satisfaction! Children, here is the reason why I need your prayer: prayer is the only way to save the human race." (July 30, 1987)

We must realize that Satan is real. He uses us for his own end and purposes. His main purpose is destruction. Destruction of love, peace, faith, family, and life. Just as God gave David 5 stones with which to defeat Goliath, Our Lady is also giving us 5 Stones or Weapons we can use to defeat satan. They are:

• Daily Prayer (Of the Rosary)
• Fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays
• Daily Reading of the Bible
• Monthly Confession
• Holy Communion

We must realize that Our Lady's plan is for the entire planet, that this war is a war of love against destruction, and that Our Lady's goal in this struggle is the reign of love, and the return of souls to God.

Our Lady tells us that our personal role is "Great". We cannot do enough to live the messages. We must be willing to abandon ourselves completely. When put in proper perspective, our homes, our money, and our businesses are not nearly as important as gaining eternal life in Heaven after this life.

Matthew 16:25-27 "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would a man show if he were to gain the whole world and destroy himself in the process? What can a man offer in exchange for his very self?"

MEDJUGORJE

By Albert A. Caprio, O.P.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE

On June 2 1981 at approximately 6:45 P.M., several children saw The Blesses Virgin for the first time. Of course they were terrified at the beginning. One boy, IVAN locked himself in his room and couldn't sleep all that night. The next morning he got up nerve enough to share the experience with his parents. The other children, however, talked about the experience that same evening, and the news of the apparition spread among the people.

The next day, following an inner call, the children started out on the same path as the day before. On the first and second evening of them saw Our Lady; however, they were not the same six. Four saw her on both days (two of them did not return), but two others came instead, MARIJA AND JAKOV. On the third day the kids brought holy water with them and sprinkled the vision...The Virgin just smiled at them.

On the same evening that Our Lady told the visionaries that she was "THE QUEEN OF PEACE", many saw the sign "MIR" written in the sky. On August 2. 1981 many villagers and pilgrims witnessed the miracle of the sun. 150 people testified to seeing the miracle which they claimed was similar to what happened at Fatima. At the same time many people claimed that the cross bar of the huge cross located on "Cross Mountain" disappeared, leaving only the vertical bar which subsequently turned white.

To date there have been many apparent healings reported to the priests of which they are keeping careful records. Eventually, a scientific commission will examine these healings to determine any real miracles.

THE MESSAGE OF MEDJUGORJE

When we speak of "visionaries" we refer to the young people there in Medjugorje who have mysterious meetings with Our Lady every evening. In spite of their long duration of more than 10 years now. no one is able to explain them or disclaim them. No outside observers, not even psychiatrists or neuro-psychiatrists can find answers. The kids say: "we start to pray and then Our Lady comes." They pray the "Our Father" and the "Glory Be...". They say that The Lady begins the prayer, and they all chime in with "...who art in heaven..." all in unison.

Our Lady has entrusted VICA with the story of her life, which She finished telling her on April 10, 1985, and has given her a date when she may reveal this to a priest of her choosing. MARIJA PAVLOVIC receives messages every Thursday especially for the whole parish there. Her apparitions ended at Christmas of 1992. IVANCA doesn't have visions anymore either. She received visions until May 7,1985, when her visions ended in a prolonged ecstacy. Generally after the visions end, the visionaries experience a deep depression.

The visions generally end when Our Lady has revealed the last of 10 secrets of things to come. Over the years, Mary has confided secrets to the seers, which will be revealed to the world at a pre-determined time, to convince the people of the world to convert their lives to peace through prayer, fasting, penance and reconciliation. She promised to reveal separately to each seer 10 secrets, after which she will cease to appear to those who have received them.

Presently two of them, Miriana and Ivanka have received all 10 secrets. The other four have received nine. Miriana was asked By Mary to choose a priest to whom she will give the material on which the 10 secrets are written, ten days before the secrets are to take place. The priest, in turn, will be able to read the messages of each secret with the help of the Madonna, and will announce each secret three days before it is to occur.

Mary continues to appear daily to the remaining seers, and once each month she gives a message for the world. The messages are almost always about the same theme:pray, fast, repent, so that peace may come. The Church of St. James in Medjugorje, as a result of the apparitions was filled to capacity every day with pilgrims and the people of the local community. However, with the war of liberation which has been taking place in that country, the number of pilgrims have drastically diminished, at least for now. However, for the local community,(about 200 families) devotion to God is more central than ever.

WHY SO MANY APPARITIONS?

Because She is our Mother, our Lady obviously feels responsible for the salvation of the world. She has been given this special task by her son. This she herself points out clearly in her message of Nov. 29, 1984. "...Be aware, loved ones, that I am your Mother and that I came to earth so that I can teach you to listen with love to God and to pray with love..''and on Feb. 7, 1985: "I stayed this long so that I could be of help to you in your trials .

Obviously She recognizes and accepts Her mission, and has chosen her special messengers who are passing on her messages to the rest of the world. On Au. 16, 1984 she said: "I beg all of you, especially those from this parish, to live my messages and relate them to whomever you meet". (here can be mentioned about their "open-house" service)

WHAT DOES THE CHURCH HAVE TO SAY?

Local Church leaders sometimes feel they must keep Medjugorje under "wraps" until formal Church approval is given. However, Rome has established for itself a very different pastoral response; a response of support rather than distance. The support, of course, is low keyed and provisional so as not to short cut the on-going process that will lead to a final definitive judgement. The process historically has only granted full recognition to world-scale apparitions when they have come to their conclusion. FATIMA was formally recognized 13 years later, and GUADALUPE 200 years later.

An informal type of recognition is granted to apparitions while they are still happening. It is granted as a result of careful and continuing scrutiny of their content and fruits. This kind of provisional approval is important because it provides exactly the kind of guidance what Church leaders around the world need from Rome as to how much influence an apparition should be allowed to exert while it is still going on. The Vatican and the Yugoslavian Bishops have granted to Medjugorje the fullest possible measure of INFORMAL APPROVAL. The Pope writes: To Bishop Krueger (Brazil) "Medjugorje is a great center of spirituality" To Bishop Paul Hnlica (Czechoslovakia) " Yes, today the world has lost the sense of the supernatural. In M, many have looked for it and found it in prayer, fasting, and confession." To Cardinal Franizec Tomizec (Poland): "If I were not Pope, I would long since have gone there to assist at the work with the pilgrims". To the American Bishop's questions: " Let the people go there, they pray there." Bishop Flores replied, "But they are inviting me to go with them". The pope answered: " Go and pray for me".

To the Korean Bishops in response to thanks for what he did to free Poland from communism: "No, not me, but by the works of the Blessed Virgin according to her affirmations at Fatima and Medjugorje.

In April of 1985, the Pope encouraged the founding of OASIS OF PEACE, a new religious order, based on the apparitions of M..

THE YUGOSLAVIAN BISHOPS

They have all been to M. and have studied the messages and lives of the visionaries for orthodoxy and personal candor. One of them, Archbishop Frane Franic, reported at the Notre Dame National Conference of M. in 1989 that all but one of them trusts the visionaries. They decided as a body to organize themselves in a regular rotation to visit M. so as to assist the parish in the work of pilgrims. The war, however, has interfered with those visits.

OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE ONE DISSENTING BISHOP:

"The negative conclusions of Bishop Pavao Zanic's first commission on M. were discarded by Rome as unacceptable".

"On May 2,1986, in an unprecedented move by the Church authorities, jurisdiction for ruling on the apparitions in M. was taken out of the hands of the local ordinary, Bishop Zanic>"

In response to an inaccurate report which originated with Bishop Zanic and distributed by the Catholic News Service; the Yugoslavian Bishops Conference responded two days later: " There has been no definitive judgement concerning the supernatural character of the events in M."

IN SUMMARY:

Since apparitions with any negative content are quickly disavowed, the wait-and-see attitude of the Church is in itself a provisional kind of approval. Both the Pope and the Yugoslavian Bishops are treating and indeed protecting M. as a legitimate place of pilgrimage and a shrine, although they cannot officially say that explicitly as yet.

They are also giving great priority to the pastoral needs of people who are experiencing conversion through M.