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Queen of Peace By the end of 2003, the number of people who will have visited Medjugorje (a small village in Bosnia-Herzegovina, pop. 4,000) is approximately 23 million! The number of individuals across the world who have heard about Medjugorje is immeasurable. So much has and is happening there . . . far too much to include in this brief history. But, also there is far too much to ignore, or simply assume as invalid. Our Lady’s visits continue, since June 24, 1981, and her messages are of utmost importance. As a result of visiting and praying at Medjugorje, many miracles and spiritual changes have occurred in the lives of pilgrims who have made the journey, as well as, in the lives of those whom they have prayed for. Prior to the beginning of the apparitions, in May of 1981, Fr. Tomislav Vlasic a priest of the Medjugorje parish was in Rome attending a conference on Catholic Charismatic Renewal. At that time, he was concerned, but also pessimistic about his parish ministry. He asked to be prayed over for the healing of the Church. One of several religious who prayed over Fr. Vlasic was Sr. Briege McKenna, an Irish nun with a healing ministry. Another was a priest named Fr. Tardiff. During their prayers, Sr. McKenna said she saw Fr. Vlasic sitting on the celebrant’s chair in the sanctuary of his church and surrounded by a large crowd. Beneath his seat were streams of living water which were flowing from the altar. Fr. Tardiff reported actually hearing the words, “Do not fear. I am sending you My Mother.” The apparitions of Our Lady in Medjugorje began the next month, on June 24th. Two pretty girls, Ivanka Ivankovic (age 15) and Mirjana Dragicevic (age 16) were on their way home from an afternoon walk on June 24. It was the celebrated feast day of St. John the Baptist (herald of Christ). Ivanka looked toward the hill, called Crnica, and saw a bright silhouette of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She said to Mirjana, “It’s Gospa!” (“Our Lady” in their native Croatian language). But, Mirjana refused to look, thinking the idea, itself was unbelievable. As they walked on, a younger girl, Milka Pavlovic, asked for their help in rounding up her goats. Arriving back at the spot, all three now saw the luminous Virgin. This time they knelt down. Soon their friend, Vicka Ivankovic (age 16) arrived and they called to her, “Look up there.” Terrified, Vicka kicked off her shoes and ran. She met Ivan Dragicevic (age 16) and his friend, Ivan Ivankovic, who happened to be walking that way along the path. Telling them what happened; they suggested that she take them to the site, so they could check it out. They, too, saw the vision of Our Lady; but Ivan Dragicevic (like Vicka earlier) took off in a dead run for home. On this day, Our Lady looked to them, but said no words. The next afternoon, Ivanka and Mirjana decided to return to the same spot below the hill about the same time of day. Four other youth soon joined them: Vicka Ivankovic, Marija Pavlovic (age 16, Milka’s sister), Ivan Dragicevic, and Jokov Colo (age 10, Marija’s younger cousin). [Unable to join the others, Milka Pavlovic’s mother had sent her on an errand that day; and neither did Ivan Ivankovic return to the hill on June 25.] While looking up and gazing upon the radiant Blessed Virgin Mary (who was holding the baby Jesus), she appeared to be calling to them, to “Come.” Within a very short time, all six were seemingly transported to the top of the hill. There, they beheld her face to face. The Blessed Virgin was wearing a gray dress tinted, perhaps, with a slight touch of blue. A long, white, silk mantle flowed over her head and shoulders, down her back and touched the snow white cloud that enveloped her feet. Behind and over her head sparkled a circle of 12 golden stars. Her hair, what little they could see, was long and black. Never had the children seen such a lovely face with such loving, blue eyes. A strong feeling of “peace” overwhelmed the children, as they remained transfixed on their Blessed Mother, Queen of Peace. On this day, Our Lady began to speak to them and parted with saying, “Go in peace.” [This day, June 25th, 1981, marked the beginning of the apparitions of Our Lady to the six youth of Medjugorje. She would appear to the (same) six children, every day for a year and a half. After that, the number and occasions of apparitions to the entire group would gradually decline.] On the third day, June 26, Our Lady appeared to the children about the same time of day, about 6:40 p.m. Vicka brought along a glass of holy water and at seeing the Virgin sprinkled some of the holy water upon her saying, “If you are Gospa, stay with us. But if you are not, leave us alone.” Our Lady smiled, as the water simply flowed off her dress. She spoke kindly and said, “I am the Blessed Virgin Mary.” After the apparition, Marija was first to descend the hill. Reaching a mount about halfway down (Mt. Podbrdo), she was surprised to, once again, be greeted by the Holy Virgin. Gospa appeared to her there and said, “Peace, peace, peace and only peace! Peace must reign between God and man, and also between men.” Persecution and investigation of the visionaries, of their families, relatives, their priests and parish (even of the pilgrims) started almost immediately after the beginning of the apparitions. The visionaries were taken away for police investigations and psychiatric examinations. But, it was always stated that they were healthy and unharmed. Further examinations continued in following years.
At
the end of the second year of the apparitions (1982), the Blessed Virgin From the first day of her appearances, the six children would pray 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Mary’s and 7 Glory Be’s with Our Lady. Later, she asked for adoration of Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar (the Eucharist), fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays and for the children to pray at least the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries of the Rosary, once each day. According to the unanimous witness of the visionaries, Our Lady gives them messages to be transmitted to the parish and to the world. They mainly address: CONVERSION, PRAYER, FASTING, FAITH, AND (RECONCILIATION or) PEACE. St. James Church (named after its patron saint and patron saint of pilgrims, St. James the Greater) is today the focus and the center of both sacramental and prayer life, not only for the parishioners, but also for pilgrims. In August of 1984, Mary said that the Cross on Krizevac (or Cross Mountain) that rises above Medjugorje (1560 ft.) was in God’s plan and that people should pray in front of it. The next year (Sept., 1985), she said, “Great graces are granted when we pray in front of it.”
Throughout the years of Medjugorje apparitions, the six visionaries are also receiving 10 secrets each. The secrets include future chastisements because of sin. The visionaries say the 10 secrets will remain secrets until an appointed time. Only the visionaries know the day and time the messages will be revealed. The secrets will be released to the world one at a time through a priest (now chosen by Mirjana, Fr. Petar Lujbicic). Prior to each chastisement, the priest will receive a parchment, but will not be able to read the parchment except with prayer, fasting, and help from Our Lady. The messages about chastisements will be announced to the world three days before the event is to take place. As of Jan. 1, 2003: Mirjana, Ivanka, and Jokov have received all ten secrets, they no longer see Our Lady except on special occasions. Vicka, Ivan, and Marija have each received nine of the ten secrets, and they still see Our Lady, almost every day. Our Lady has confirmed to the visionaries that after she imparts ‘ten secrets’ to all six visionaries, her apparitions will end at Medjugorje with a great sign – a permanent sign similar to that prophesied at Garabandal, Spain (1960’s) and other apparition sites. The visionaries have related that, “the time preceding the visible sign is a period of grace for conversion and a deepening of faith. After the visible sign, those still living will have little time for conversion. For that reason, Our Blessed Mother invites us to heartfelt reconciliation and conversion.” Yes, the warnings (which precede the Great Sign possibly within a year of it) are approaching and we need to be ready. The first two secrets will be given as advance warnings and provide proof Medjugorje is truly of God. The third secret will be a visible sign – the great sign. [After that, we can only speculate that the next seven secrets - are seven chastisements for the world (or the seven broken seals of the Book of Revelations?)]. In November, 1983, Our Lady told all six visionaries that when this happens, it will be the last time she will appear on this earth: “These are my last apparitions to mankind.” The visionaries today are no longer children. All are married and all have children. Will their children, will ours, witness the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the Glorious Reign of the Sacred Heart? Many believe the answer is “yes,” but it is up to all of us to shoulder the Cross that will bring us to this point, for there can be no Glory without the Cross. When these signs do come, and they will, Mirjana has reported that many people will be converted, including many who doubted the apparitions, as well as, those who disbelieved. The Holy Spirit will open the eyes, hearts, and minds of those, who were otherwise closed. The heavenly graces, miracles, and messages in Medjugorje have continued for over 22 years (since 1981)! Because of the volume of information on the events and messages, we encourage our readers to pray and seek more detailed information through Catholic books and videos; and to research and discern everything with God’s help.
Click on the below names to read about the visionaries Ivanka Mirjana Vicka Marija Ivan Jakov
Photo Gallery Our Lady of Medjugorje page
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Our
Lady of Medjugorje
The
Medjugorje pastor, Fr. Jozo Zovko, OFM, initially had doubts about the
children’s visions; but later he experienced an interior call of God to,
began to address herself through inner locutions to two ten year old girls in
the parish. Jelena Vasilj and Marijana Vasilj (not related) began to
receive interior, audible messages from Our Lady, not visions. Through
them, Our Lady gave specific counsel (from 1983 to 1987) to the prayer group
they helped to establish, and hence, to the prayer movement at large that was
created from the very beginning of the apparitions. Our Lady’s messages
in Medjugorje constitute a specific school of peace, of prayer, and of love.
At
first, Our Blessed Mother’s public messages for the world were almost
daily. Now, they come on the 25th of each month. The 5
or 6 primary messages (listed above) remain consistent throughout the
thousands of messages Mary has given in Medjugorje. Because, so often,
she greets the children and delivers messages concerning peace, Our Lady of
Medjugorje is also known as “Queen of Peace.”