A Brief Introduction to Medjugorje
n 24th June 1981, in the mountain parish of Medjugorje Bosnia- Herzegovina, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 6 young people. Next day she appeared again to four of those six together with two others (Ivanka, Marija, Mirjana, Vicka, Ivan and Jackov) who became the definate visionaries. On this second day, Our Lady spoke and ever since (with few exceptions early on), she has been appearing daily to them all, then later three of the children and annually to the other three. The apparitions have taken place at various sites, some outside of Bosnia Herzegovina. Secrets pertaining to the future have been given to each and there have been countless messages. Our Lady identified herself in Medjugorje as the Blessed Virgin, Queen of Peace.Her central message is peace – peace with God and man.
She told the young people, "I have come to tell the world that God exists. He is the fullness of life and to enjoy this fullness and obtain peace, you must return to God". In bringing the world back to Her Son, Mary has been sent by the Father to make Medjugorje a model parish.
During the apparitions, the visionaries don't react to light, they don't hear any earthly sound, they don't react to being touched. They have been subjected to many scientific tests, even during the apparitions and the findings are well documented. While with Our Lady, they feel they are outside of time and space.
From the beginning, the church has been examining the situation. The local bishop Zanic, who held increasingly negative views has now been replaced by Bishop Peric since November 1992. Rome remains open minded. Since the Bishops conference of Yugoslavia no longer exists, there is no longer a commission covering the events in the parish of Medjugorje.
Until such time as the church passes judgement on Medjugorje, we follow the advice of Pope Urban VIII. "In cases such as this, it is better to believe than to not believe, for if you believe and it is proven true, you will be happy that you believed, because Jesus and Our Lady asked it. If you believe and it should be proven false, you will recieve all blessings as if it had been proven true because you believed it to be true.
The Blessed Virgin Mary proposes a 6 point program.
(1) Faith - Belief in God and in the supernatural. It is your true vision therefore live by it.
(2) Commitment to God. Let him direct your life. Begin by turning away from sin in true
conversion and repentance.
(3) Prayer - regular Mass, monthly Confession, daily Rosary and dedication to the Sacred
Heart and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
(4) Fasting - bread and water on Fridays and Wednesdays if you can. If not at least cut
back or practice some form of self denial.
(5) Peace. In your own heart. In your family, neighbourhood and work place, in all your
human relations and reaching out to the war stricken world.
(6) The Holy Bible. We should read part of the gospels each day.