A SHORT HISTORY OF OUR LADY'S
APPARITIONS IN MEDJUGORJEFor over
15 years now, in Medjugorje (Citluk, Bosnia-Hercegovina)
six trustworthy witnesses, testify firmly under
oath, that since the 24th of June 1981, the
Blessed Virgin Mary, or the "Gospa", as she is
affectionately known as here, appears to them
every day up to the present.
The FIRST Day
On the said date at approximately six
o' clock in the evening, on the area of Crnica
hill known as Podbrdo, the children, Ivanka
Ivankovic, Mirjana Dragicevic, Vicka Ivankovic,
Ivan Dragicevic, Ivan Ivankovic and Milka Pavlovic
saw an incredibly beautiful young woman with a
little child in her arms. She didn't say anything
to them but indicated with gestures that they
should come closer. Surprised and frightened they
were afraid to come near, even though they
immediately thought her to be Our Lady.
The SECOND Day
On the second day, the 25th of June
1981, the children agreed to meet once again at
the same place that Our Lady had previously
appeared, in the hope of seeing her again. All of
a sudden there was a flash of light. The children
looked up and saw Our Lady, this time without the
child. She was smiling and joyful and was
indescribably beautiful. With her hands she
gestured to them to come closer. The children
braced themselves and went up to her. They
immediately fell to their knees and began to pray
the "Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be". Our Lady
prayed together with them except for when they
prayed the "Hail Mary".
After the prayer she began to speak
with the children. Ivanka, first of all, asked her
about her mother who had died two months
previously. And Mirjana asked Our Lady for some
sign to be given to show to the people that they
were neither lying nor crazy, as some people had
said.
Our Lady finally left the children
with the words, "God be with you my
angels!" Before that, when the children asked
her if they would see her the following day, she
replied by nodding her head.
According to the visionaries the whole
encounter was indescribable. On that day two of
the children which made up the previous group were
missing; Ivan Ivankovic and Milka Pavlovic. They
were replaced by two others; Maria Pavlovic and
Jakov Colo. And from that day onwards according to
these six children, Our Lady regularly appears to
them. Milka Pavlovic and Ivan Ivankovic, who were
present on the first day of apparitions, did not
see Our Lady again, even though they returned to
the apparition site, in the hope of seeing her.
The THIRD Day
On the 26th of June 1981, the children
full of anticipation waited at around six o'clock,
which was when she previously appeared. They were
going towards the same place, to meet her there.
They were very happy, although their joy was mixed
with fear wondering what would be the outcome of
all this. Despite all this, the children could
feel some sort of inner strength attracting them
to meet with Our Lady.
Suddenly, while the children were
still on their way a light flashed three times. To
them and to those following them, it was a sign
indicating Our Lady's whereabouts. On that third
day Our Lady appeared even higher up than on the
previous days. All at once Our Lady disappeared.
But when the children began to pray, she
reappeared. She was cheerful and smiling serenely
and once again her beauty was overwhelming.
As they left their houses some older
women advised them to carry holy water with them
to make sure that it was not of satan. When they
were with Our Lady Vicka took the water and
splashed it in the direction of the vision saying,
"If you are Our Blessed Mother, please stay, and
if you are not, go away from us". Our Lady smiled
at this and remained with the children. Then
Mirjana asked her name and she replied,
"I am the Blessed Virgin Mary".
On the same day, coming down
Podbrdo,Our Lady appeared one more time, this time
however only to Maria saying, "Peace,
peace, peace and only peace." Behind her,
Maria could see a cross. After which Our Lady
repeated, in tears, the following words,
"Peace must reign between man and God,
and between all people!" The area where this
took place is about half way up to the Apparition
Site.
The FOURTH Day
On the 27th of June 1981, Our Lady
appeared three times to the children. On that
occasion the children asked all kinds of questions
and Our Lady responded. For priests, she gave this
message. "May the priests firmly
believe and may they take care of the faith of the
people!" Once again, Jakov and Mirjana asked
for a sign, because the people had begun to accuse
them of lying and of taking drugs. "Do
not be afraid of anything", Our Lady replied.
Before parting, when asked if she
would come again, she indicated that she would. On
the way down Podbrdo, Our Lady appeared one more
time to say good bye with the words,
"May God be with you my angels, go in peace!".
The FIFTH Day
On the 28th of June 1981, big crowds
were gathering from all parts even from the early
hours of the morning. By noon there were about
fifteen thousand people. On the same day, the
Parish Priest, Fr. Jozo Zovko, examined the
children on what they had seen and heard in the
previous days.
At the usual time Our Lady appeared
again. The children prayed with her, and
afterwards they questioned her. Vicka, for
example, asked "My dear Lady, what do you want
from us and what do you want from our priests?".
Our Lady replied, "The people should
pray and firmly believe". Regarding priests,
she replied that they should believe firmly and
help others to do the same.
On that day Our Lady came and went
many times. During one of these times the children
asked her why she doesn't appear in the Parish
Church for everyone to see. She replied,
"Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet believe".
Even though the crowds were pushing
them with their questions and curiosities and the
day was heavy and sultry, the children felt as
though they were in heaven.
The SIXTH Day
On the 29th of June 1981, the
children were taken to Mostar for a medical
examination after which they were proclaimed
"healthy". The statement of the head doctor was;
"The children aren't crazy, the person who brought
them here must be though"....
The crowds on Apparition Hill that
day were greater than ever. As soon as the
children arrived at the usual place and began to
pray, Our Lady appeared. On that occasion the
Blessed Mother exhorted them to have faith saying,
"The people should believe firmly and
have no fear."
On that day, a doctoress who was
following and observing them, during the
apparition desired to touch Our Lady. The children
guided her hand to the place where Our Lady's
shoulder was, and she felt a tingling sensation.
The doctor, even though an atheist had to admit
that, "Here, something strange is happening!".
On that same day a child was
miraculously healed by the name of Daniel Setka.
Her parents had brought her to Medjugorje, praying
specifically for a healing. Our Lady had promised
that this would come about if the parents prayed
and fasted and strongly believed. The child
thereupon was healed.
The SEVENTH Day
On the 30th of June 1981 two young
girls suggested to the children to go by car
further away to be able to stroll in peace. Really
their intention was to bring them away from the
area and keep them until after the normal
apparition time had passed. However, even though
the children were far away from Podbrdo, at the
usual time of the apparition, it was as if an
interior call prompted them to ask to be let out
of the car. As soon as they did, and said a
prayer, Our Lady drew near to them, from the
direction of Podbrdo which was now over a
kilometer away. She prayed seven "Our Fathers"
etc. And so the girl's trick had no effect. Soon
after this the police began to hinder the children
and the pilgrims going on Podbrdo; the site of
apparitions. The children, and soon afterwards
even the crowds were forbidden to go there. But
Our Lady continued to appear to them in secret
places, in their homes and in the fields. The
children had already gained confidence, and openly
spoke with Our Lady, eagerly seeking her advice,
listening to her warnings and messages. The events
of Medjugorje continued in this fashion up until
the 15th of January 1982.
In the meantime, the Parish Priest
began to host the pilgrims in the Church, enabling
them to participate in the rosary and to celebrate
the Eucharist. The children also gave out the
rosary. Our Lady sometimes appeared to them in the
church at that time. Even the Parish Priest
himself once while praying the rosary, saw Our
Lady. Immediately he broke off praying and
spontaneously started to sing a popular hymn; "Lijepa
is, lijepa Djevo Mario"; - "O how beautiful you
are Most Blessed Virgin Mary". The whole church
could see that something unusual was happening to
him. Afterwards he stated that he had seen her.
And so, he who up until then had not only been
doubtful, but openly against even rumors of the
apparitions, became their defender. He testified
his support of the apparitions even to the point
of serving a prison sentence.
From the 15th of January 1982 onwards
the children saw Our Lady in a closed off area of
the Parish Church. The Parish Priest arranged this
because of the newly arisen difficulties and
sometimes even dangers which provided themselves
for the visionaries. Previously the children had
ensured that this was in accord with Our Lady's
wishes. Because of the prohibitions of the
Diocesan Bishop however, from April 1985 onwards
the children ceased to use the area of the church
as an apparition site. Instead, they went to a
room in the Parish house.
All this time, from the beginning of
the apparitions up until today, there have only
been five days when none of the children saw Our
Lady.
Our Lady didn't always appear in the
same place either, nor to the same group, nor
individuals, nor did her apparitions always last a
specified period. Sometimes the apparitions lasted
two minutes, sometimes an hour. Neither did Our
Lady appear at the children's will. Sometimes they
prayed and waited but Our Lady didn't appear until
a little while afterwards, unexpectedly and
unforewarned. And sometimes she appeared to one
and not to the others. If she hadn't promised an
appointed time, nobody knew when she would appear,
or if she would appear. Neither did she appear
always to just the aforesaid visionaries, but to
others also of different age, stature, race,
education and walks of life. All this suggests
that the apparitions are not a product of the
imagination. It depends neither on time nor place,
nor desire nor the prayer of pilgrim or visionary,
but moreover on the will of He who permits it.
THE MESSAGES
According to the united testimony of
the visionaries, Our Lady on the occasion of her
apparition gave a series of messages, to be
transmitted to the people. Even though there are
many messages, they can however be summarized in
five themes, because all the messages basically
underline or lead up to these five.
General Overview of the
Messages
PEACE - Already on
the third day, Our Lady stressed peace as the
first of her messages: "Peace peace
peace and only peace!", after which she said
twice, "Peace must reign between God
and man and between people". Considering that
Maria could see a cross, when Our Lady gave this
message, the obvious conclusion is that this peace
comes from God. God, who through Our Lady in
Christ became our peace. (Ephesians 2:14) "For He
is the peace between us"...This peace, "the world
cannot give" (John 14:27) and that's why Christ
commanded His apostles to bring it to the world
(Matthew 10:11) so that all men could become "sons
of peace" (Luke 10:6). That's why Our Lady as
"Queen of Apostles" in Medjugorje specifically
refers to herself as "Queen of Peace". Who better
than she, can more successfully convince today's
world, which is faced with the threat of
destruction, how great and how necessary peace is.
FAITH - The second
of Our Lady's messages is faith. Already on the
fourth, fifth and sixth day of apparitions, Our
Lady exhorted those present to have strong faith.
Understandably, she repeated this message many
times. Without faith we cannot arrive at peace!
Not only this but faith is itself an answer to
God's Word, which he not only proclaims but
actually gives to us. When we believe, we accept
God's Word which in Christ, became "our peace"
(Ephesians 2:14). Accepting it, the individual
becomes a new creature, with a new life of Christ
within, and a share in God's nature (1 Peter 1:4,
Ephesians 2:18 ) In this way the individual
ensures peace with God and with others.
Once again there is no-one who can
better understand the necessity and
efficaciousness of faith than Our Lady. That's why
she stressed it on every occasion and charged the
visionaries to bring the light of faith to others.
Our Lady presented faith as an answer to
everything, no matter whatever people were looking
for. She presented it as the prerequisite of all
prayer, desires and demands, relating it to
health, wholeness and to all other human
necessities.
CONVERSION -
Conversion was another one of Our Lady's frequent
messages. This presupposes that she noticed either
a weakness or a complete lack of faith in humanity
today. And without conversion it is impossible to
achieve peace. True conversion means, the
purifying or cleansing of the heart, (Jeremiah
4:14), because a corrupt or 'deteriorated' heart
is the basis of bad relations, which in turn
brings social disorder, unjust laws, base
constitutions etc. Without a radical change of
heart, without the conversion of the heart, there
is no peace. For this reason, Our Lady continually
suggests frequent confession. The request is
directed to all without differentiation because,
"not one of us is just"...."all have
wandered, not one does right" (Romans
3:11-12).
PRAYER - Almost
daily, from the fifth day of apparitions onwards
Our Lady recommends prayer. She requests everyone
to "pray without ceasing" just as
Christ himself taught. (Mark 9:29, Matthew 9:38;
Luke 11:5-13) Prayer, therefore stimulates and
strengthens our faith, without which our
relationship with God is disordered;-as is our
relationship with each other. Prayer also reminds
us of how close God is to us even in our daily
lives: In prayer we acknowledge Him, we give Him
thanks for His gifts to us, and we are filled with
a hopeful expectancy of that which we need, but
particularly our redemption. Prayer solidifies the
equilibrium of the individual, and aids us in our
'ordered relationship with God', without which it
is impossible to maintain peace either with God or
with our neighbor.
The Word of the Lord acquainted
itself with all humanity and awaits humanity's
response. It is precisely this which gives prayer
it's "justification". Our response should be
"spoken faith", or "prayer". In prayer, faith
animates, renews, strengthens and sustains itself.
In addition to this, man's prayer really bears
witness to the Gospel, and to the existence of
God, thus provoking a response of faith in others.
FASTING - Already on
the sixth day of the apparitions, Our Lady often
recommended fasting because it aids faith. That
is, the practice of fasting aids and ensures
control over oneself. Only the person who can
dominate himself is truly free, and is capable of
abandoning himself to God and to his neighbor, as
faith demands. Fasting guarantees him that his
abandonment to faith is secure and sincere. It
helps him to free himself from every slavery, but
especially to the slavery to sin. Whoever is not
in the possession of oneself is in some way
enslaved. Therefore fasting helps the individual
to restrain himself from disordered pleasure
seeking which in turn leads him to a futile and
useless existence often wasteful of the very goods
which are necessary to others just for basic
survival.
With fasting we also retrieve the
gift which creates within us a realistic love for
the poor and the destitute, which up to a certain
point eases the difference between rich and poor.
It therefore heals the wants of the poor and also
heals the excesses and overindulgence of others.
And in it's own way, it gives a dimension of peace
which today in a special way, is threatened by the
difference in the lifestyles of the rich and the
poor. (e.g.North and South).
To sum up, we can say that Our Lady's
messages underline that peace is the greatest
good, and that faith, conversion, prayer and
fasting are the means by which we can attain it.
The Special Messages
Outside of the five messages which,
as we have said are the important messages which
Our Lady immediately gave to the whole world, she
started from the 1st of March 1984, every
Thursday, mainly through the visionary Maria
Pavlovic to give special messages to the Parish of
Medjugorje and to the pilgrims who come. Our Lady
therefore, outside of the six visionaries chose
the Parish of Medjugorje together with the
pilgrims who come here to be her collaborators and
witnesses. This is clear from the first of the
Thursday messages, where she says: "I
am choosing this Parish in a special way and I
want to guide it." She emphasized this once
again when she said, "I am choosing
this Parish in a special way, which is dearer to
me than others, where I joyfully went when the
Almighty sent me." (25th March 1985). Our Lady
gave a reason too for her choice saying;
"Convert, you in the Parish, this is
my second wish. In that way, all those who come
here will convert." (8th March 1984).
"I am asking you, especially the
members of this Parish, to live my messages"
(16th August 1984). First of all the parishioners
and the pilgrims should become witnesses of her
apparitions, and her messages, so that we can then
unite with her and the visionaries in the
realization of her plan for conversion of the
world and reconciliation with God.
Our Lady well knows the weaknesses
and the nature of the parishioners and pilgrims
with whom she wishes to collaborate in the
salvation of the world. She is aware of the need
for supernatural strength. That's why she leads
them to the fount of that strength. This,
primarily is prayer. She ardently and continuously
exhorts us to pray. Of all prayer, she especially
stresses the Holy Mass, (7th March 1985,16th May
1985)and recommends continuous devotion to the
Blessed Sacrament (15th March 1984). She also
encourages devotion to the Holy Spirit (2nd June
1984; 9th June 1984; 11th April 1985; 23rd May
1988..etc.) and the reading of Sacred Scripture
(8th Sept. 1984; 14th Feb. 1985).
With these special messages to the
Parish and it's pilgrims, Our Lady wishes that the
first messages, which in the beginning were
intended for the whole world, are deepened, made
more acceptable and understandable to others.
From the 25th of January 1987 Our
Lady began to give the message on the 25th of
every month instead of every Thursday, through the
visionary Maria Pavlovic. This still continues
today.
Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic.
(Professor of Theology and translator of Sacred
Scripture into the croatian language. Fr. Rupcic
is resident in Medjugorje.)
THE LAST OF MIRJANA
DRAGICEVIC'S DAILY MEETINGS WITH OUR LADY,
CHRISTMAS 1982.
The last of my daily apparitions was
on Christmas day, 25th of December 1982. Our Lady
stayed with me for forty five minutes on that
occasion. For a month Our Lady had been preparing
me for that meeting. She had been explaining
everything to me in a motherly way. She told me
that I had completed that which I had been
necessary for. She told me that I must understand
and am mature enough to turn back to normal daily
living, like other girls of my age. I must
continue to live without her motherly advice and
without those very necessary conversations with
her. She promised me that she would always be with
me and that she would help me in the most
difficult moments in life. For as long as I live
with God, she will help me.
Church's Position on Medjugorje
Latest News From the Vatican on
Medjugorje!!! - 08/21/96
There has been much confusion
recently regarding the Church's position on
Medjugorje. Rumors have been circulating which
claim Medjugorje has been banned, or that the
alleged apparitions have been disproved. These
rumors are FALSE!! The
investigation of Medjugorje by the Commitee of
Bishops is ongoing. No final directive or
conclusion has been reached.
A key phrase which has been quoted
frequently from the 1991 Bishops Conference in
Zadar: "On the basis of
investigations so far it can not be affirmed that
one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and
revelations.", has been taken frequently to
mean the apparitions, or Medjugorje in general has
been condemned or disproved. On the contrary, the
Church must be prudent and cautious regarding its
approval of any alleged apparition site. This
quote should not be considered negative, but
rather, seen as a cautious stance taken by the
Church while its investigation continues, and
before a final decision is reached. The following
1993 quote from the Commitee of Bishops, gives us
positive insight into the Church's current
position:
"We bishops, after a
three-year-long commission study accept Medjugorje
as a holy place, as a shrine. This means that we
have nothing against it if someone venerates the
Mother of God in a manner also in agreement with
the teaching and belief of the Church. .
.Therefore, we are leaving that to further study.
The Church does not hurry." (Glas Koncila,
August 15, 1993).
While no "official" pilgrimages can
be endorsed or organized until a final decision
has been reached, private pilgrimages are accepted
and encouraged by many clergy, including Pope John
Paul II. (see comments by Pope John Paul II on
Medjugorje)
(An official pilgrimage is defined as
a group organized and led by bishops, priests, and
other clergy. A private pilgrimage is one which is
organized by laity, but can also include bishops,
priests, and other clergy.)
- Steve Shawl
In Zadar April 10, 1991
The Bishops of Yugoslavia
(Zagreb Glas Koncila May 5, 1991 19)
On Medjugorje - Something More
Definite
Editorial Commentary in "Glas Koncila",
official national croatian catholic newspaper,
Zagreb May 5, 1991, p. 2
The latest declaration on Medjugorje
from the Catholic Bishops of the Socialist Federal
Republics of Yugoslavia is a classic example of
the centuries old practice of authentic
ecclesiastical prudence. It demonstrates that the
Church respects facts above all, that it carefully
measures its competence and that in all matters it
is mostly concerned for the spiritual welfare of
the faithful.
It is a fact known to the whole world
that, because of news about Our Lady's apparitions
already for a full ten years, both believing and
inquisitive people have been gathering in
Medjugorje. Is it a fact that the Mother of God is
really appearing there and giving messages? The
Bishops, carefully holding to their competency,
declare that "On the basis of
investigations so far it can not be affirmed."
The content and the sense of that
declaration has to be considered on two levels. In
this case the first and the essential level is
that the contents of such possible so-called
private revelations cannot be added to the
revealed and obligatory contents of the faith.
Therefore, neither the Bishops nor the Pope
himself have the authority either to conclude
infallibly that Our Lady has really appeared
somewhere or the authority to impose on the
faithful to believe that she has appeared. The
magisterium of the Church is infallible under well
known conditions only when it affirms that
something is contained or not contained in that
Revelation which the Church received up to the end
of the apostolic age and which is preserved in
Scripture and Tradition. Whatever is included
neither in Scripture nor in Tradition the
magisterium cannot proclaim as a doctrine of the
faith nor as content to be believed under
obligation. Accordingly, only the uninstructed
could expect the Bishops to resolve the question
of the Medjugorje apparitions for us so as then to
know exactly what we are allowed or not allowed to
believe about them.
But on the other hand then why are
they so carefully investigating that report?
Because they do have the obligation to establish
whether that which is taking place there and is
being proclaimed from there is in accordance with
the entirety of the revealed truth of the faith
and of moral doctrine. If it is established that
there is nothing contrary, that the revelations
and messages are in accordance with Catholic faith
and morals, they, as the most responsible in the
Church, could proclaim that there is neither any
objection to gatherings of the faithful in that
place nor to the development of the spiritual life
according to the sense of those messages. On the
contrary, it would be their obligation to expose
errors and prevent abuses. The pertinent
expressions in the new Declaration show that the
investigations are also continuing in that sense.
But the main force of the Declaration
shows that our bishops are above all taking notice
of the factual gathering of a large number of the
faithful and of the inquisitive in Medjugorje and
they consider it their duty to insure that such a
large number of gatherings there receive a correct
proclamation of the faith, an orthodox and
up-to-date catechesis, so that the holy sacraments
are correctly and worthily administered there and
especially that the Medjugorje Marian devotion
develops in accord with Christian orthodoxy. That
position is the real news of this document.
Surely, as the document itself
states, one should expect suitable
liturgical-pastoral directives for the solemn
celebrations in Medjugorje. A proposal made long
ago, which was also emphasized in "Glas Koncila",
would also thereby be realized, namely, that the
bishops' care for Medjugorje be divided between
two commissions, One would continue investigating
whether there are or are not supernatural
apparitions or revelations, and the other would
take care of the proper and healthy ecclesiastical
conduct of the Medjugorje gatherings. This is
because it is really possible that the first of
these commissions would still be investigating for
a long time and maybe even decide not to publish
its final opinion, whereas care for the gatherings
cannot be postponed because they are continuously
taking place.
For many devout people around the
whole world this Declaration will serve as a
valuable relief in the area of conscience. Those,
namely, who come to Medjugorje motivated by
belief, will from now on know that those
gatherings are covered by the ordinary and
responsible care of the successors of the
apostles.
THE EX-YUGOSLAVIA BISHOPS'
CONFERENCE IN ZADAR, APRIL 1991
At the ordinary session of the
Bishops' Conference of Yugoslavia in Zadar from
April 9 - 11, 1991 the following was adopted.
DECLARATION
The bishops, from the very beginning,
have been following the events of Medjugorje
through the Bishop of the diocese [Mostar], the
Bishop's Commission and the Commission of the
Bishops Conference of Yugoslavia on Medjugorje.
On the basis of the investigations so
far it can not be affirmed that one is dealing
with supernatural apparitions and revelations.
However, the numerous gatherings of
the faithful from different parts of the world,
who come to Medjugorje, prompted both by motives
of belief and various other motives, require the
attention and pastoral care in the first place of
the diocesan bishop and with him of the other
bishops also, so that in Medjugorje and in
everything connected with it a healthy devotion to
the Blessed Virgin Mary may be promoted in
accordance with the teaching of the Church.
For this purpose the bishops will
issue specially suitable liturgical-pastoral
directives. Likewise, through their Commission
they will continue to keep up with and investigate
the entire event in Medjugorje.
STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE
PRESS OFFICE OF THE HOLY SEE, DR. JOAQUIN NAVARRO-VALLS,
ON PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE
"No new fact has been
undertaken regarding this."
As has been already stated on
previous occasions, in these cases, respect of the
immediate competence of the local episcopate is
required.
In regard to that, on April 10, 1991
the Bishops of ex-Yugoslavia declared:
"... On the basis of the
investigations so far it can not be affirmed that
one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and
revelations."
However, the numerous
gatherings of the faithful from different parts of
the world, who come to Medjugorje prompted both by
motives of belief and various other motives,
require attention and pastoral care in the first
place of the bishop of the diocese and with him of
the other bishops also, so that in Medjugorje and
in everything connected with it a healthy devotion
to the Blessed Virgin Mary may be promoted in
accordance with the teaching of the Church...."
One must still repeatedly emphasize
the indispensable necessity of continuing the
search and the reflection, besides the prayer, in
the face of any presumed supernatural phenomenon,
as long as there be no definitive pronouncement.
Bulletin No. 233 - June 19, 1996
The Core Message of Medjugorje
The message of Medjuorje is a call to
Conversion, conversion back to
God. Our Lady gives us five tools
(see below) which we can use to overcome the
power and influence of evil and sin in our lives.
This is the "Message of
Medjugorje". Our Lady's purpose for coming
to our earth is to guide each one of us back to
her Son Jesus. She does this by leading us step by
step toward a life of holiness through the almost
300 public messages she has given to the world
through the visionaries in Medjugorje. The time
for decision is NOW!!. Our Lady's
call is URGENT!!. We must open
our hearts and begin to change our lives starting
today, starting now.
Prayer
Prayer is the center of Our Lady's
plan and is the most frequent message in
Medjugorje.
"Today also I am calling
you to prayer. You know, dear children, that God
grants special graces in prayer... I call you,
dear children, to prayer with the heart."
(April 25, 1987)
To pray with the heart is to pray
with love, trust, abandonment, and concentration.
Prayer heals human souls. Prayer heals the history
of sin. Without prayer, we cannot have an
experience of God.
"Without unceasing
prayer, you cannot experience the beauty and
greatness of the grace which God is offering you."
(February 25, 1989)
Our Lady's recommended
prayers:
- In the beginning, following an old
prayer tradition, Our Lady asked for the daily
praying of: The Creed, followed by Seven Our
Fathers, Hail Mary's, and Glory Be's. (See "How
to Pray the Rosary" below for a listing of the
prayers).
- Later, the Rosary came to the
center of attention. Our Lady wishes us to pray
daily, together or individually, the entire
Psalter (The Rosary - Joyful, Sorrowful, and
Glorious Mysteries).
Everybody should pray. Our Lady says:
"May prayer reign in the whole
world." (August 25, 1989) Through prayer, we
will defeat Satan's power, and obtain peace and
salvation for our souls.
"You know that I love
you and am coming here out of love, so I could
show you the path of peace and salvation for your
souls. I want you to listen to me and not permit
Satan to seduce you. Dear children, Satan is
strong enough! Therefore, I ask you to dedicate
your prayers so that those who are under his
influence may be saved. Give witness by your life,
sacrifice your lives for the salvation of the
world... Therefore, little children, do not be
afraid. If you pray, Satan cannot injure you, not
even a little, because you are God's children and
He is watching over you. Pray, and let the Rosary
always be in your hands as a sign to Satan that
you belong to me." (February 25, 1989)
The power of Satan is destroyed by
prayer and he cannot harm us if we pray. No
Christian should be afraid of the future unless he
does not pray. If he does not pray, is he a
Christian? If we do not pray, we are naturally
blind to many things and cannot tell right from
wrong. We lose our center and our balance.
Fasting
In the Old Testament and in the New
Testament, there are many examples of fasting.
Jesus fasted frequently. According to Tradition,
fasting is encouraged especially in times of great
temptation or severe trials. Certain devils,
"can be cast out in no other way
except by prayer and fasting", said Jesus.
(Mark 9:29)
Fasting is essential in order to
achieve spiritual freedom. Through fasting, one is
better able to listen to God and man and to
perceive them more clearly. If, through fasting,
we achieve that freedom, we will be more aware of
many things. Once we are aware that we can enjoy
the necessities of life without struggle, then
many fears and worries fade away. We become more
open to our families and to the people with whom
we live and work. Our Lady recommends fasting
twice a week: "Fast strictly on
Wednesdays and Fridays." (August 14, 1984)
She asks us to accept this difficult
message "....with a firm will."
She asks us to "Persevere in ...
fasting." (June 25, 1982)
"The best fast is on
bread and water. Through fasting and prayer one
can stop wars, one can suspend the natural laws of
nature. Works of charity cannot replace fasting...
Everyone except the sick, has to fast." (July
21, 1982)
We have to realize the power of
fasting. Fasting means to make a sacrifice to God,
to offer not only our prayers, but also to make
our whole being participate in sacrifice. We
should fast with love, for a special intention,
and to purify ourselves and the world. The great
task of purification needs sacrifices. We should
fast because we love God and want to be soldiers
that offer our bodies in the battle against evil.
Daily Reading of the Bible
Usually Our Lady comes to the
visionaries happy and joyful. On one occasion,
while talking about the Bible, She was crying. Our
Lady said: "You have forgotten the
Bible."
The Bible is a book different from
any other book on earth. Vatican II says that all
the canonical books of the Bible were, "..written
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they
have God as their author." (Dogmatic Constitution
on Devine Revelation) This means that no other
book can be compared to this book. That is why Our
Lady asks us to separate THE BOOK from the other
human books on the shelves. There is no writing
even from a saint or inspired that can be compared
to the Bible. That is why we are asked to place
the Bible in a visible separate place in our
homes.
"Dear children, today I
call you to read the Bible everyday in your homes
and let it be in a visible please so as always to
encourage you to read it and pray." (October
18, 1984)
It is very rare to hear Our Lady say,
"you must". She "desires", "calls", etc., but on
one occasion, She used a very strong Croatian verb
that means "must".
"Every family must pray
family prayers and read the Bible." (February
14, 1985)
Confession
Our Lady asks for monthly confession.
From the very first days of the apparitions, Our
Lady spoke about confession:
"Make your peace with
God and among yourselves. For that, it is
necessary to believe, to pray, to fast, and to go
to confession." (June 26, 1981)
"Pray, pray! It is
necessary to believe firmly, to go to confession
regularly, and, likewise, to receive Holy
Communion. It is the only salvation."
(February 10, 1982)
"Whoever has done very
much evil during his life can go straight to
Heaven if he confesses, is sorry for what he has
done, and receives Communion at the end of his
life." (July 24, 1982)
The Western Church (United States)
has disregarded confession and its importance. Our
Lady said:
"Monthly confession will
be a remedy for the Church in the West. One must
convey this message to the West." (August 6,
1982)
Pilgrims who come to Medjugorje are
always impressed by the number of people waiting
for confession and the number of priests hearing
confession. Many priests have had extraordinary
experiences during confessions in Medjugorje.
About a particular feast day, Our Lady said:
"The priests who will
hear confessions will have great joy on that day!
(August, 1984)
Confession should not be a habit that
would "make sinning easy". Vicka says to every
group of pilgrims, "Confession is something that
has to make a new human being out of you. Our Lady
does not want you t think that confession will
free you from sin and allow you to continue the
same life after that. No, confession is a call to
transformation. You must become a new person!" Our
Lady explained the same idea to Jelena:
"Do not go to confession
through habit, to remain the same after that. No,
it is not good. Confession should give an impulse
to your faith. It should stimulate you and bring
you closer to Jesus. If confession does not mean
anything for you, really, you will be converted
with great difficulty." (November 7, 1983)
The Eucharist
Our Lady recommends Sunday Mass, and
when possible, daily Mass. It has been reported by
the visionaries that Our Lady has cried when
speaking of the Eucharist and the Mass. She said:
"You do not celebrate
the Eucharist as you should. If you would know
what grace and what gifts you receive, you would
prepare yourselves for it each day for an hour at
least." (1985)
The evening Mass in Medjugorje is the
most important moment of the day because Our Lady
is present and She gives us Her Son in a special
way. The Mass is more important than the daily
apparition. Marija said that if she had to choose
between the Eucharist and the apparition, she
would choose the Eucharist. Our Lady said:
"The evening Mass must
be kept permanently." (October 6, 1981)
She also asked that the prayer to the
Holy Spirit always be said before Mass. Our Lady
wants to see the Holy Mass as "the highest form of
prayer" and "the center of our lives" (according
to Marija). Vicka also says that the Blessed
Mother sees the Mass as "the most important and
the most holy moment in our lives. We have to be
prepared and pure to receive Jesus with a great
respect. The Mass should be the center of our
lives" Our Lady is crying because people do not
have enough respect toward the Eucharist. The
Mother of God wants us to realize the extreme
beauty of the mystery of the Mass. She has said:
"There are many of you
who have sensed the beauty of the Holy Mass...
Jesus gives you His graces in the Mass."
(April 3, 1986)
"Let the Holy Mass be
your life." (April 25, 1988)
This means that the sacrifice and
resurrection of Christ must become our life,
together with the hope of His second coming.
During Mass, we receive the Living Christ and in
Him we receive the whole mystery of our salvation
that must transform and transfigure us. The Holy
Mass is the perfect expression of the mystery of
Christ in which we can fully participate in His
life. Our Lady has said:
"Mass is the greatest
prayer of God. You will never be able to
understand its greatness. That is why you must be
perfect and humble at Mass, and you should prepare
yoursleves for it." (1983)
Our Lady wants us to be full of joy
and hope during Mass and to make an effort so that
this moment will "be an experience of God".
Surrender to Jesus and the Holy Spirit is a very
important part of the messages because it is the
only path to holiness. To be open to the Holy
Spirit in the Sacraments is the way we are going
to be sanctified. In this way, Our Lady will
obtain for us, the grace to become Her witnesses
in the world to fulfill the plan of God and Her
plan. Our Lady has said:
"Open your hearts to the
Holy Spirit. Especially during these days the Holy
Spirit is working through you. Open your hearts
and surrender your life to Jesus so that He works
through your hearts." (May 23, 1985)
Monthly Messages From
1996
JANUARY 25, 1996:
"Dear Children, today I invite you to decide for
peace. Pray to God that He will give you true
peace. Live peace in your hearts and you will
understand, dear children, that peace is God's
gift. Dear children, without love you cannot live
peace. The fruit of peace is love and the fruit of
love is forgiveness. I am with you and I am
inviting all of you, little children, to first
forgive in the family and then you will be able to
forgive others. Thank you for having responded to
my call."
FEBRUARY 25, 1996:
"Dear Children, today, I invite you to conversion.
This is the most important message that I have
given you here. Little children, I wish that each
of you become a carrier of my messages. I invite
you, little children, to live the messages that I
have given you over these years. This is a time of
grace, especially now when the church also is
inviting you to prayer and conversion. I also,
little children, invite you to live my messages
that I have given you during the time since I
appeared here. Thank you for having responded to
my call."
MARCH 18, 1996 -
Mirjana's Annual Apparition: "Dear children!
On this message, which I give you today through my
servant, I desire for you to reflect a long time.
My children, great is the love of God. Do not
close your eyes, do not close your ears while I
repeat to you: Great is His love! Hear my call and
my supplication which I direct to you. Consecrate
your heart and make in it the home of the Lord.
May He dwell in it forever. My eyes and my heart
will be here, even when I will no longer appear.
Act in everything as I ask you and lead you to the
Lord. Do not reject from yourself the name of God,
that you may not be rejected. Accept my messages
that you may be accepted. Decide, my children, it
is the time of decision. Be just and innocent of
heart, that I may lead you to your Father, for
this, that I am here, is His great love. Thank you
for being here!"
MARCH 25, 1996:
"Dear Children, I invite you to decide again to
love God above all else. In this time when, due to
the spirit of consumerism, one forgets what it
means to love and to cherish true values. I invite
you again, little children, to put God in the
first place in your life. Do not let Satan attract
you through material things, but, little children,
decide for God, who is freedom and love. Choose
life and not death of the soul. Little children,
in this time when you meditate upon the suffering
and death of Jesus, I invite you to decide for
life which blossomed through the resurrection, and
that your life may be renewed today through
conversion, that shall lead you to eternal life.
Thank you for having responded to my call."
APRIL 25, 1996:
"Dear Children! Today I invite you again to put
prayer in the first place in your families. Little
children, when God is in the first place, then you
will, in all that you do, seek the will of God. In
this way your daily conversion will become easier.
Little children, seek with humility that which is
not in order in your hearts, and you shall
understand what you have to do. Conversion will
become a daily duty that you will do with joy.
Little children, I am with you, I bless you all
and I invite you to become my witnesses by prayer
and personal conversion. Thank you for having
responded to my call."
MAY 25, 1996: "Dear
Children! Today I wish to thank you for all your
prayers and sacrifices that you, during this month
which is dedicated to me, have offered to me.
Little children, I also wish that you all become
active during this time, that is through me
connected to heaven in a special way. Pray in
order to understand that you all, through your
life and your example, ought to collaborate in the
work of salvation. Little children, I wish that
all people convert and see me and my son, Jesus,
in you. I will intercede for you and help you to
become the light. In helping the other, your soul
will also find salvation. Thank you for having
responded to my call."
JUNE 25, 1996: "Dear
children! Today I thank you for all the sacrifices
you have offered me these days. Little children, I
invite you to open yourselves to me and to decide
for conversion. Your hearts, little children, are
still not completely open to me and therefore, I
invite you again to open to prayer so that in
prayer the Holy Spirit will help you, that your
hearts become of flesh and not of stone. Little
children, thank you for having responded to my
call and for having decided to walk with me toward
holiness."
JULY 25, 1996: "Dear
children! Today I invite you to decide every day
for God. Little children, you speak much about
God, but you witness little with your life.
Therefore, little children, decide for conversion,
that your life may be true before God, so that in
the truth of your life you witness the beauty God
gave you. Little children, I invite you again to
decide for prayer because through prayer, you will
be able to live the conversion. Each one of you
shall become in the simplicity, similar to a child
which is open to the love of the Father. Thank you
for having responded to my call."
AUGUST 25, 1996:
"Dear children! Listen, because I wish to speak to
you and to invite you to have more faith and trust
in God, who loves you immeasurably. Little
children, you do not know how to live in the grace
of God, that is why I call you all anew, to carry
the word of God in your heart and in thoughts.
Little children, place the Sacred Scripture in a
visible place in your family, and read and live
it. Teach your children, because if you are not an
example to them, children depart into godlessness.
Reflect and pray and then God will be born in your
heart and your heart will be joyous. Thank you for
having for responded to my call."
SEPTEMBER 25, 1996:
"Dear children! Today I invite you to offer your
crosses and suffering for my intentions. Little
children, I am your mother and I wish to help you
by seeking for you the grace from God. Little
children, offer your sufferings as a gift to God
so they become a most beautiful flower of joy.
That is why, little children, pray that you may
understand that suffering can become joy and the
cross the way of joy. Thank you for having
responded to my call."
OCTOBER 25, 1996:
"Dear children! Today I invite you to open
yourselves to God the Creator, so that He changes
you. Little children, you are dear to me. I love
you all and I call you to be closer to me and that
your love towards my Immaculate Heart be more
fervent. I wish to renew you and lead you with my
Heart to the Heart of Jesus, which still today
suffers for you and calls you to conversion and
renewal. Through you, I wish to renew the world.
Comprehend, little children, that you are today
the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Little children, I invite you and I love you and
in a special way implore: Convert! Thank you for
having responded to my call."
NOVEMBER 25, 1996:
"Dear children! Today, again, I invite you to
pray, so that through prayer, fasting and small
sacrifices you may prepare yourselves for the
coming of Jesus. May this time, little children,
be a time of grace for you. Use every moment and
do good, for only in this way will you feel the
birth of Jesus in your hearts. If with your life
you give an example and become a sign of God's
love, joy will prevail in the hearts of men. Thank
you for having responded to my call."
DECEMBER 25, 1996
"Dear children! Today I am with you in a special
way, holding little Jesus in my lap and I invite
you, little children, to open yourselves to His
call. He calls you to joy. Little children,
joyfully live the messages of the Gospel, which I
am repeating in the time since I am with you.
Little children, I am your Mother and I desire to
reveal to you the God of love and the God of
peace. I do not desire for your life to be in
sadness but that it be realized in joy for
eternity, according to the Gospel. Only in this
way will your life have meaning. Thank you for
having responded to my call."
January 25, 1997
"Dear children! I invite you to reflect about your
future. You are creating a new world without God,
only with your own strength and that is why you
are unsatisfied and without joy in the heart. This
time is my time and that is why, little children,
I invite you again to pray. When you find unity
with God, you will feel hunger for the word of God
and your heart, little children, will overflow
with joy. You will witness God's love wherever you
are. I bless you and I repeat to you that I am
with you to help you. Thank you for having
responded to my call."
February 25, 1997
"Dear children! Today I invite you in a special
way to open yourselves to God the Creator and to
become active. I invite you, little children, to
see at this time who needs your spiritual or
material help. By your example, little children,
you will be the extended hands of God, which
humanity is seeking. Only in this way will you
understand, that you are called to witness and to
become joyful carriers of God's word and of His
love. Thank you for having responded to my call."
March 18, 1997 -
Mirjana's Birthday Apparition "Dear children!
As a mother I ask that you do not go on the path
that you have been on, that is the path without
love towards neighbor and towards my Son. On this
path, you will find only hardness and emptiness of
heart, and not peace which you all long for.
Truthful peace will have only that one, who in his
neighbor sees and loves my son. In the heart of
the one where only my Son reigns, that one knows
what peace and security is. Thank you for having
responded to my call."
Mirjana said that Our Lady was saddened only when
She was giving the message, otherwise, it was like
normal. She blessed everyone present and all
religious articles. Our Lady prayed with Mirjana
an Our Father and Glory Be for unbelievers. The
apparition lasted 6 minutes, beginning at 1:50 pm.
She said nothing about the secrets.
March 25, 1997 "Dear
children! Today, in a special way, I invite you to
take the cross in the hands and to meditate on the
wounds of Jesus. Ask of Jesus to heal your wounds,
which you, dear children, during your life
sustained because of your sins or the sins of your
parents. Only in this way, dear children, you will
understand that the world is in need of healing of
faith in God the Creator. By Jesus' passion and
death on the cross, you will understand that only
through prayer you, too, can become true apostles
of faith; when, in simplicity and prayer, you live
faith which is a gift.Thank you for having
responded to my call." 03/97
April 25, 1997 "Dear
children! Today I call you to have your life be
connected with God the Creator, because only in
this way will your life have meaning and you will
comprehend that God is love. God sends me to you
out of love, that I may help you to comprehend
that without Him there is no future or joy and,
above all, there is no eternal salvation. Little
children, I call you to leave sin and to accept
prayer at all times, that you may in prayer come
to know the meaning of your life. God gives
Himself to him who seeks Him. Thank you for having
responded to my call." 04/97
May 25, 1997 "Dear
children! Today I invite you to glorify God and
for the Name of God to be holy in your hearts and
in your life. Little children, when you are in the
holiness of God, He is with you and gives you
peace and joy which come only from God through
prayer. That is why, little children, renew prayer
in your families and your heart will glorify the
holy Name of God and heaven will reign in your
heart. I am close to you and I intercede for you
before God. Thank you for having responded to my
call." 05/97
June 25, 1997 "Dear
children! Today I am with you in a special way and
I bring you my motherly blessing of peace. I pray
for you and I intercede for you before God, so
that you may comprehend that each of you is a
carrier of peace. You cannot have peace if your
heart is not at peace with God. That is why,
little children, pray, pray, pray, because prayer
is the foundation of your peace. Open your heart
and give time to God so that He will be your
friend. When true friendship with God is realized,
no storm can destroy it. Thank you for having
responded to my call." 06/97
July 25, 1997 "Dear
children! Today I invite you to respond to my call
to prayer. I desire, dear children, that during
this time you find a corner for personal prayer. I
desire to lead you towards prayer with the heart.
Only in this way will you comprehend that your
life is empty without prayer. You will discover
the meaning of your life when you discover God in
prayer. That is why, little children, open the
door of your heart and you will comprehend that
prayer is joy without which you cannot live. Thank
you for having responded to my call." 07/97
August 25, 1997
"Dear children! God gives me this time as a gift
to you, so that I may instruct and lead you on the
path of salvation. Dear children, now you do not
comprehend this grace, but soon a time will come
when you will lament for these messages. That is
why, little children, live all of the words which
I have given you through this time of grace and
renew prayer, until prayer becomes a joy for you.
Especially, I call all those who have consecrated
themselves to my Immaculate Heart to become an
example to others. I call all priests and
religious brothers and sisters to pray the rosary
and to teach others to pray. The rosary, little
children, is especially dear to me. Through the
rosary open your heart to me and I am able to help
you. Thank you for having responded to my call."
08/97
September 25, 1997
"Dear children! Today I call you to comprehend
that without love you cannot comprehend that God
needs to be in the first place in your life. That
is why, little children, I call you all to love,
not with a human but with God's love. In this way,
your life will be more beautiful and without an
interest. You will comprehend that God gives
Himself to you in the simplest way out of love.
Little children, so that you may comprehend my
words which I give you out of love, pray, pray,
pray and you will be able to accept others with
love and to forgive all who have done evil to you.
Respond with prayer; prayer is a fruit of love
towards God the Creator. Thank you for having
responded to my call." 09/97
October 25, 1997
"Dear children! Also today I am with you and I
call all of you to renew yourselves by living my
messages. Little children, may prayer be life for
you and may you be an example to others. Little
children, I desire for you to become carriers of
peace and of God's joy to today's world without
peace. That is why, little children, pray, pray,
pray! I am with you and I bless you with my
motherly peace. Thank you for having responded to
my call." 10/25/97
November 25, 1997
"Dear children! Today I invite you to comprehend
your Christian vocation. Little children, I led
and am leading you through this time of grace,
that you may become conscious of your Christian
vocation. Holy martyrs died witnessing: I am a
Christian and love God over everything. Little
children, today also I invite you to rejoice and
be joyful Christians, responsible and conscious
that God called you in a special way to be
joyfully extended hands toward those who do not
believe, and that through the example of your
life, they may receive faith and love for God.
Therefore, pray, pray, pray that your heart may
open and be sensitive for the Word of God. Thank
you for having responded to my call." 11/25/97
December 25, 1997
"Dear children! Also today I rejoice with you and
I call you to the good. I desire that each of you
reflect and carry peace in your heart and say: I
want to put God in the first place in my life. In
this way, little children, each of you will become
holy. Little children, tell everyone, I want the
good for you and he will respond with the good
and, little children, good will come to dwell in
the heart of each man. Little children, tonight I
bring to you the good of my Son who gave His life
to save you. That is why, little children, rejoice
and extend your hands to Jesus who is only good.
Thank you for having responded to my call."
12/25/97
Monthly Messages From
1998
Message of January 25,
1998 "Dear children! Today again I call all of
you to prayer. Only with prayer, dear children,
will your heart change, become better, and be more
sensitive to the Word of God. Little children, do
not permit Satan to pull you apart and to do with
you what he wants. I call you to be responsible
and determined and to consecrate each day to God
in prayer. May Holy Mass, little children, not be
a habit for you, but life. By living Holy Mass
each day, you will feel the need for holiness and
you will grow in holiness. I am close to you and
intercede before God for each of you, so that He
may give you strength to change your heart. Thank
you for having responded to my call." 01/98
Message of February 25,
1998 "Dear children! Also today I am with you
and I, again, call all of you to come closer to me
through your prayers. In a special way, I call you
to renunciation in this time of grace. Little
children, meditate on and live, through your
little sacrifices, the passion and death of Jesus
for each of you. Only if you come closer to Jesus
will you comprehend the immeasurable love He has
for each of you. Through prayer and your
renunciation you will become more open to the gift
of faith and love towards the Church and the
people who are around you. I love you and bless
you. Thank you for having responded to my call."
02/98
MIRJANA'S ANNUAL
APPARITION The visionary Mirjana
Dragicevic-Soldo had her regular annual apparition
on March18, 1998. Our Lady stopped the daily
apparitions to Mirjana December 25, 1982. At that
time Our Lady, after confiding the last of ten
secrets to her, promised that she will have an
apparition on her birthday, March 18, for the
course of her entire life. And it was that way
also this year.
The apparition lasted between four
and five minutes. Our Lady spoke to her about the
secrets, blessed all those present, and gave the
following message:
"Dear children! I call you to be my
light, in order to enlighten all those who still
live in darkness, to fill their hearts with the
Peace of my Son. Thank you for having responded to
my call!" 03/18/98
Message of March 25,
1998 "Dear children! Also today I call you to
fasting and renunciation. Little children,
renounce that which hinders you from being closer
to Jesus. In a special way I call you: Pray,
because only through prayer will you be able to
overcome your will and discover the will of God
even in the smallest things. By your daily life,
little children, you will become an example and
witness that you live for Jesus or against Him and
His will. Little children, I desire that you
become apostles of love. By loving, little
children, it will be recognized that you are mine.
Thank you for having responded to my call." 03/98
Message of April 25,
1998 "Dear children! Today I call you, through
prayer, to open yourselves to God as a flower
opens itself to the rays of the morning sun.
Little children, do not be afraid. I am with you
and I intercede before God for each of you so that
your heart receives the gift of conversion. Only
in this way, little children, will you comprehend
the importance of grace in these times and God
will become nearer to you. Thank you for having
responded to my call." 04/98
Message of May 25, 1998
"Dear children! Today I call you, through prayer
and sacrifice, to prepare yourselves for the
coming of the Holy Spirit. Little children, this
is a time of grace and so, again, I call you to
decide for God the Creator. Allow Him to transform
and change you. May your heart be prepared to
listen to, and live, everything which the Holy
Spirit has in His plan for each of you. Little
children, allow the Holy Spirit to lead you on the
way of truth and salvation towards eternal life.
Thank you for having responded to my call." 05/98
Message of June 25, 1998
"Dear children! Today I desire to thank you for
living my messages. I bless you all with my
motherly blessing and I bring you all before my
Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my
call." 06/98
Message of July 25, 1998
"Dear children! Today, little children, I invite
you, through prayer, to be with Jesus, so that
through a personal experience of prayer you may be
able to discover the beauty of God's creatures.
You cannot speak or witness about prayer, if you
do not pray. That is why, little children, in the
silence of the heart, remain with Jesus, so that
He may change and transform you with His love.
This, little children, is a time of grace for you.
Make good use of it for your personal conversion,
because when you have God, you have everything.
Thank you for having responded to my call." 07/98
Message of August 25,
1998 "Dear children! Today I invite you to
come still closer to me through prayer. Little
children, I am your mother, I love you and I
desire that each of you be saved and thus be with
me in Heaven. That is why, little children, pray,
pray, pray until your life becomes prayer. Thank
you for having responded to my call." 08/98
Message of September 25,
1998 "Dear children! Today, I call you to
become my witnesses by living the faith of your
fathers. Little children, you seek signs and
messages and do not see that, with every morning
sunrise, God calls you to convert and to return to
the way of truth and salvation. You speak much,
little children, but you work little on your
conversion. That is why, convert and start to live
my messages, not with your words but with your
life. In this way, little children, you will have
the strength to decide for the true conversion of
the heart. Thank you for having responded to my
call." 09/98
Message of October 25,
1998 "Dear children! Today I call you to come
closer to my Immaculate Heart. I call you to renew
in your families the fervor of the first days when
I called you to fasting, prayer and conversion.
Little children, you accepted my messages with
open hearts, although you did not know what prayer
was. Today, I call you to open yourselves
completely to me so that I may transform you and
lead you to the heart of my son Jesus, so that He
can fill you with His love. Only in this way,
little children, will you find true peace - the
peace that only God gives you. Thank you for
having responded to my call." 10/98
Message of November 25,
1998 "Dear children! Today I call you to
prepare yourselves for the coming of Jesus. In a
special way, prepare your hearts. May holy
Confession be the first act of conversion for you
and then, dear children, decide for holiness. May
your conversion and decision for holiness begin
today and not tomorrow. Little children, I call
you all to the way of salvation and I desire to
show you the way to Heaven. That is why, little
children, be mine and decide with me for holiness.
Little children, accept prayer with seriousness
and pray, pray, pray. Thank you for having
responded to my call." 11/98
Message of December 25,
1998 "Dear children! In this Christmas joy I
desire to bless you with my blessing. In a special
way, little children, I give you the blessing of
little Jesus. May He fill you with His peace.
Today, little children, you do not have peace and
yet you yearn for it. That is why, with my Son
Jesus, on this day I call you to pray, pray, pray,
because without prayer you do not have joy or
peace or a future. Yearn for peace and seek it,
for God is true peace. Thank you for having
responded to my call." 12/98
ANNUAL APPARITION TO
JAKOV ON DECEMBER 25, 1998
After the apparition which began at 11.50 a.m. and
lasted 12 minutes, Jakov wrote:
"Our Lady came joyful. She greeted
me, as always, with 'Praised be Jesus!' She spoke
to me about the secrets and afterwards gave me
this message:"
'Dear children! Today, on the
birthday of my Son, my heart is filled with
immeasurable joy, love and peace. As your mother,
I desire for each of you to feel that same joy,
peace and love in the heart. That is why do not be
afraid to open your heart and to completely
surrender yourself to Jesus, because only in this
way can He enter into your heart and fill it with
love, peace and joy. I bless you with my motherly
blessing.'
Jakov prayed with his family. He
prepared himself for the apparition with
Confession and Holy Mass. After the apparition, he
cried for a while.
Monthly Messages From
1999
Message of January 25,
1999 "Dear children! I again invite you to
prayer. You have no excuse to work more because
nature still lies in deep sleep. Open yourselves
in prayer. Renew prayer in your families. Put Holy
Scripture in a visible place in your families,
read it, reflect on it and learn how God loves His
people. His love shows itself also in present
times because He sends me to call you upon the
path of salvation. Thank you for having responded
to my call." 01/99
Message of February 25,
1999 "Dear children! Also today I am with you
in a special way contemplating and living the
passion of Jesus in my heart. Little children,
open your hearts and give me everything that is in
them: joys, sorrows and each, even the smallest,
pain, that I may offer them to Jesus; so that with
His immeasurable love, He may burn and transform
your sorrows into the joy of His resurrection.
That is why, I now call you in a special way,
little children, for your hearts to open to
prayer, so that through prayer you may become
friends of Jesus. Thank you for having responded
to my call." 02/99
ANNUAL APPARITON TO
MIRJANA SOLDO ON MARCH 18, 1999 "Dear
children! I want you to surrender your hearts to
me so that I may take you on the way which leads
to the light and to eternal life. I do not want
your hearts to wander in today's darkness. I will
help you. I will be with you on this way of
discovery of the love and the mercy of God. As a
mother, I ask you to permit me to do this. Thank
you for having responded to my call."
The apparition lasted for 6 minutes from 10:14 to
10:20 am. Our Lady spoke about the secrets. She
blessed everyone.
Message of March 25,
1999 "Dear children! I call you to prayer with
the heart. In a special way, little children, I
call you to pray for conversion of sinners, for
those who pierce my heart and the heart of my Son
Jesus with the sword of hatred and daily
blasphemies. Let us pray, little children, for all
those who do not desire to come to know the love
of God, even though they are in the Church. Let us
pray that they convert, so that the Church may
resurrect in love. Only with love and prayer,
little children, can you live this time which is
given to you for conversion. Place God in the
first place, then the risen Jesus will become your
friend. Thank you for having responded to my
call." 03/99
Message of April 25,
1999 "Dear children! Also today I call you to
prayer. Little children, be joyful carriers of
peace and love in this peaceless world. By fasting
and prayer, witness that you are mine and that you
live my messages. Pray and seek! I am praying and
interceding for you before God that you convert;
that your life and behavior always be Christian.
Thank you for having responded to my call." 04/99
Vicka Ivankovic -
Vicka is the oldest of the group. She was born
September 3, 1964, in Bijakovici. Our Lady
appeared to her for the first time on June 24,
1981. For her, the daily apparitions have not yet
stopped. Our Lady has so far confided nine secrets
to her. Vicka lives in her parents' home in the
parish of Medjugorje.
Vicka comes from a family of 8
children. Her two oldest sisters are now married.
The younger children are still in school. Vicka
was learning about the textile industry in a
school at Mostar. The other children cultivate the
family land on which grapes and tobacco are grown.
Vicka is of medium height and thin.
She has sparkling eyes and a wonderful smile. She
is fascinating to watch during the apparitions.
She simply radiates delight. She frequently nods
her head in approval and her almost constant smile
occasionally expands into what could be almost
mild laughter. Though her health is not good, she
is filled with energy and is strong-willed and is
not afraid to assume her responsibility to the
Blessed Mother and the pilgrims.
When our Lady indicated that it would
not be good for all the older seers to go away to
school and leave little Jakov, (who was 10 years
old at the beginning of the apparitions) alone in
Medjugorje. Vicka immediately volunteered to stop
going to school in Mostar, and did. She now works
in the tobacco fields but would like to enter the
convent one day. Her family, particularly her
father, is devoutly religious.
Vicka: "Before, I prayed
from pure habit. Now I've turned completely to
prayer. I commit my life completely to God. I feel
sorry for those who do not believe in God, because
Our Lady wants no one to be lost. We can help each
other find the right way to God. It's up to the
people to obey the messages and be converted.
Great things are happening here: Our Lady is among
us. She wishes to attract everyone to Her Son.
That's the reason She has been coming so long and
so often. Here, everyone feels the nearness and
the love of God. As role model and example, Gospa
began, in January 1983, to tell me Her life story,
which took over two years."
Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo
- Mirjana was born March 18th, 1965 in Sarajevo.
She is the second oldest of the seers. Very
intelligent, Mirjana graduated from the University
of Sarajevo where her family lived.
Mirjana was the second to see the
Blessed Mother that day, June 24th in Medjugorje.
Although her family lived in Sarajevo, she spent
the summers with her grandmother who lived in
Bijakovici. That is how she came to be in
Medjugorje that summer. She had daily apparitions
from June 24, 1981 till December 25, 1982. On this
date, Mirjana received her 10th and final secret
from Our Lady. Mirjana was the first seer to
receive all 10 secrets. Since that time, Our Lady
only appeared to Mirjana once a year on her
birthday. Starting August 2, 1987, Our Lady
started appearing to Mirjana on the 2nd day of
each month with the intention of praying for all
unbelievers. Mirjana's meeting with Mary has
remained something very, very private. Not even
her own family has been able to be with her for
this. Mirjana always locks herself into her room
and starts praying. On January 2, 1997, Our Lady
told Mirjana from February 2, 1997 onward, her
apparitions with would be public, and at the
specific time of 11:00am (4:00am CST). Our Lady
invites all to join them in prayer at that time
for the unbelievers.
She now is living in the parish of
Medjugorje and is married to Marko Soldo who she
knew since they were children. They have two
children and meet with pilgrims daily when they
are in Medjugorje. This family has a grueling
schedule of appearances to spread the messages of
Our Lady of Medjugorje. Mirjana also helps out
with many orphans at the orphanage in Medjugorje
since the war.
Mirjana: "I didn't know
Marian apparitions existed. I never heard about
Lourdes or Fatima. The first day Ivanka had the
vision of Our Lady, she was full of enthusiasm and
wanted me to look too. I thought: "This can't be
real!" But, Our Lady gave us strength to accept
Her as a Mother. I've changed a lot. I realize how
empty my heart was. Now, I truly feel God, the
Mother of God, and the faith. My relationship with
Our Lady has become one of a mother and daughter.
Jesus is like a friend, or an older brother.
Whoever believes in God, and opens himself up to
God, needn't be afraid. God will be with him in
the future too. If everyone believed in God,
there'd be no war."
Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti
- Marija is the third oldest member of the group.
She was born on April 1, 1965, in Bijakovici. She
has three brothers and two sisters. When the
apparitions started, she was studying in Mostar
which is about eighteen miles away.
She is of average height and thin.
Marija is most serene and deeply spiritual. She is
a retiring and unobtrusive person. Those who know
her describe her as "just beautiful" because of
her deep spirituality, prayerfulness, and
humility.
Our Lady appeared to her for the
first time on June 25, 1981. She still has the
apparitions every day. THROUGH MARIJA OUR LADY
DIRECTS HER MESSAGE TO THE WORLD EVERY 25TH DAY OF
THE MONTH. Our Lady has confided nine secrets to
her so far. Marija is presently living in Italy,
is married, and has two children.
Marija: "Everything has
changed I Medjugorje. People started to pray and
listen to Our Lady's messages. Before, I didn't
pray enough. Now I want to pray more and more. I'm
sure God gives much to everyone who's open to
prayer. I tell people they should pray more, and
Our Lady will give them peace in all that burdens
them. It's not I, it's Our Lady who urges us to
nurture prayer, to propagate peace, and to fast.
She says that everyone who comes to Medjugorje,
must be converted. They must encourage other
people too, to pray and fast. God wishes us to
pray and fast. God wishes to develop the parish
and make it grow more and more in faith. If people
accept the messages, God will lead them."
Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez
- Ivanka was the first to see Our Lady on June 24,
1981, and is the youngest of the 4 girls and was
born on July 21, 1966, in Bijakovici. Ivanka has
one brother and one sister. Her Mother Jagoda,
died in May 1981. When the apparitions first
began, Ivanka asked the Blessed Mother how her
mother was. The Blessed Mother told her that she
was fine and was with her Son. She had daily
apparitions from June 24, 1981, till May 7, 1985.
On that day Our Lady confided to her the last of
the ten secrets. Our Lady told her that for her
entire life she will have an apparition every year
on June 25, the anniversary of the apparitions.
And so far it has been just that way. Ivanka is
living in the parish of Medjugorje, is married and
has three children.
Ivanka: "When the
apparitions began, I was only a child. I prayed
and went to church when my parents asked me to.
Now when I pray, I feel united with God and Our
Lady. Before, when I went to Mass, I didn't feel
anything special. Now, I know God is alive at the
Holy Mass and gives Himself completely to us in
the Host. Concerning my own future, I leave it
completely to God - my path will go in the
direction God leads me. I have some advice for
young people: I want to tell them to turn to God
as soon as possible because He's the only one who
can lead them to happiness and truth. We simply
must pray more and live the messages of
Medjugorje."
Ivan Dragicevic -
Ivan is the oldest of the two boys who see Our
Lady and was born on May 25th, 1965 in Bijakovici.
There are three younger children in the family and
although Ivan and Mirjana share the same last
name, they are not related.
The tallest of the group of seers, he
is also the most timid and retiring. He usually
has a more serious and pensive look on his face.
Ivan had entered a minor seminary in Dubrovnik at
the end of August 1981 but he was not adequately
prepared by his schooling in Medjugorje.
Our Lady has appeared to him every
day since June 24, 1981. To him, also, Our Lady
has confided nine secrets. Ivan now is married and
resides in the parish of Medjugorje. His wife is
expecting their first child.
Ivan: "The apparitions
made a big difference in my life - the difference
between heaven and earth. For example, I arrange
my day now so that even during the day I find time
to pray. Before, my life had no meaning. Now, I'm
filled with inner contentment. The first time I
saw Our Lady, a change occurred in my soul, and in
my heart. Before, I often avoided prayer, but now
the difference is so great, I really can't
describe it. I'm no longer sorry that Our Lady
revealed my future. I'm confident and not afraid,
because I know who leads me, and therefore, I'm
not afraid of death. People in our parish, and all
people, should feel that way."
Jakov Colo - Jakov
is the youngest of the seers. He was born on March
6, 1971 in Bijakovici, and was only 10 years old
when the apparitions started. Jakovs' mother Jaca,
died on September 5th 1983 and it affected Jakov
very deeply since he rarely saw his father.
He has had daily apparitions since
June 25, 1981, and as of September 12, 1998, Our
Lady has confided all ten secrets to him. Our Lady
will now appear to Jakov only once per year on
Christmas Day. Jakov lives in the parish of
Medjugorje, is married and now has two children.
Short for his age, Jakov made up in
energy what he was lacking in height. It was very
hard for him to stand still in any one place for
any length of time.
The presence of the young fidgety boy
among the group of seers is special in terms of
the authenticity of the apparitions. It was highly
improbable that he would come to church for two to
three hours of prayer every single day, in winter
as well as in summer, in bad weather as well as in
good, and for well over three years, simply to
make believe that he is seeing the Blessed Virgin.
Although there was a considerable gap
in age and in character development between Jakov
and the other five visionaries, they were all
friends. They all accepted Jakov and easily
related to him and each other completely.
Jakov: "From the time
Our Lady first appeared to me, my life has
entirely changed. Now, I pray more and go to Mass
every evening. I try, more and more, to fulfill
the messages that Our Lady gives us. I feel I'm
closer to God now. I believe we have to pray that
God's plans will be realized. I now want to live
as a Christian. I begin the day with prayer, then
go to school. when I get home, I help wherever
necessary. To me, the Mass means an encounter with
the living God. Our Lady always tells us to pray
more."
