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Medjugorje Our Lady Queen of Peace Vatican Perspective / Disclaimer The Holy Roman Catholic Church must wait for the apparitions to end before She can make a judgment on the apparitions in Medjugorje. When an allegedly supernatural event has occurred, it is the responsibility of the local bishop to conduct an investigation. Canonically, the bishop is entrusted with the role of “oversight” of the diocese. This role of “oversight” is based on the bishop’s responsibility both for public worship and for the religious teaching which occurs in the diocese. The Church did not decide on Lourdes or Fatima until long after the apparitions ended. ================================================================================================= During the early years, Bishop Zanic was a leading critic of these apparitions but was influenced by false documents, created by the communist government. These documents are now being studied and the apparitions investigated by an 18 member Vatican Commission created in early 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI . Some of the visionaries were invited to come to Rome and were interviewed by the Vatican in 2013. ================================================================================================= Journalist Perspective (Saverio Gaeta) "They're required to have greater accuracy. They feel the weight of such a petition, which came from the Pope directly. So they must deepen their understanding of these alleged apparitions as much as possible, to find a way to analyze, from a pastoral point of view, all that's happening there.” “Each year thousands of pilgrims make the trek to the small town of Bosnia-Herzegovina to visit the apparitions of the Gospa, as they call the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje. But, it seems they'll have to wait much longer to get on official answer as to whether or not the apparitions are deemed credible by the Church.” ====================================================================== Presenters Perspective This is either the most significant supernatural event of our times -OR- the biggest hoax that the world has ever known. More than 30 million pilgrims have visited Medjugorje since 1981 and more than 2 million Holy Communions were served during the 30th Anniversary year in 2011. About Medjugorje Medjugorje is a little village in Bosnia-Herzegovina where the Blessed Virgin Mary has been appearing to some youngsters since June 24th, 1981. Her apparitions continue almost daily up to the present. She has not said when they will cease. Mother Mary came in order to tell everyone to convert, to turn away from sin and return to God. She calls her children to strive for peace, to pray, fast, do penance, go to Confession, and believe in the Lord with strong faith. Where is Bosnia-Herzegovina? At that time, Bosnia-Herzegovina was one of six states in a Communist federation known as Yugoslavia. The inhabitants of Medjugorje were Croatian Catholics and spoke the Croatian language. Religion was allowed under the constitution, but the authorities were rather suspicious of what was happening on the little hill where hundreds of people would gather during the apparitions. They arrested the six visionaries and had them tested by the local doctor. Nothing suspicious was diagnosed and the children were found to be normal. Brief History The Blessed Virgin appeared first to Ivanka Ivanković and Mirjana Dragičević. Later that afternoon, when she came again, Vicka Ivanković and Ivan Dragičević had tagged along. The next day, on her third apparition, Marija Pavlović and Jakov Čolo were also present. This second evening, all six stayed to watch, listen and pray. Jakov was 10 years old while the others were just past their midteens. The parish priest at the local Franciscan church, Fr. Jozo Zovko, doubted the youths at first. But seven days later, while praying alone in the church, he heard a voice telling him to go out and protect the children. On opening the door, he met them fleeing from policemen, and hid them. From then on he began to believe. After this, the Communists watched him with eagle eyes and eventually accused him of preaching insinuations against forty years of atheistic rule. He was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. The apparitions persisted, and attracted thousands of pilgrims every year as news reports and films about the phenomenon proliferated around the globe. The seers were tested by psychiatrists from renowned institutions in France and Italy, and demonstrated to be of sound mind and body, and to be in states of ecstasy during their encounters with the Blessed Virgin. And from March 1984, Our Lady has been giving messages to the world through Marija – now once a month on the 25th Podbrdo Apparition Hill Visionaries (Vicka Ivankovic – Mijatovic) Vicka was born on September 9, 1964. Her family grew grapes and tobacco. She has seven brothers and sisters. Our Lady first appeared to her on June 24, 1981 when she was 16 years old. On January 26, she married Mario Mijatovic 2002. They live with their two children in Krehin Gradac, about 15 minutes’ drive from Medjugorje. Vicka still receives daily apparitions from Our Lady and has received nine of the ten secrets. Our Lady asked her to pray especially for the sick. Vicka meets with pilgrims outside her old house in Biakovici, on the east side of Medjugorje, some mornings at 8 o’clock. The Visionaries (Mirjana Dragicevic – Soldo) Mirjana was born on March 18, 1965. She has one brother. She was the second person to see Our Lady on June 24, 1981. She was 16 at the time. She married Marko Soldo on September 16, 1989. They have two children, and live in Bijakovici near the bottom of Apparition Hill. Mirjana received daily apparitions until December 25, 1982 at which time Our Lady entrusted to her the tenth secret, and promised to appear to her once a year on her birthday, March 18, for the rest of her life. Since August 2, 1987, on the second day of each month, Mirjana internally hears Our Lady's voice. Recently, on these days, she also sees Our Lady. The apparitions had been taking place at Cenacolo, but in March, 2009, the Bishop ordered Mirjana to stay home for the event. Her special ministry is to pray for unbelievers, and those who do not yet know the love of God. Our Lady told Mirjana that she is the person to divulge some of the ten secrets intermittently through a priest. She chose Father Pero Ljubicic, OFM, to perform this task when the time comes. Mirjana also gives talks to pilgrims outside her house on some days. The Visionaries (Marija Pavlovic – Lunetti) Marija was born on April 1, 1965. She has five brothers and sisters. She was 16 when she saw Our Lady for the first time on June 25, 1981. In 1993 she married Paolo Lunetti. They have four children, and live in Italy for part of the year, and then in Bijakovici, Medjugorje during the summer. Our Lady has entrusted her with nine of the ten secrets. It is through her that the monthly message for the parish and the world is transmitted on the 25th of every month. Our Lady asked her to pray especially for the souls in Purgatory and for religious nuns. She gives talks in Italy, in other parts of Europe, and near Birmingham, Alabama in the USA. While in Medjugorje she would sometimes speak to pilgrims in the Yellow Hall. The Visionaries (Ivan Dragicevic) Ivan was born May 25,1965. He has two brothers. He first saw Our Lady on June 24, 1981 when he was 16 years old. On the 23rd of October 1994 he married Loreen Murphy in Boston, MA, USA. They have three children, and live in the United States for part of the year, and then in Bijakovici, Medjugorje, during the summer months. Our Lady has entrusted nine of the ten secrets to him. In July of 1982 Our Lady began leading a prayer group through Ivan that gathered to pray twice a week. It is with this group that Ivan prepares to meet Our Lady on Apparition Hill or the Blue Cross on some Monday and Friday nights in the Summer. Thousands of pilgrims are present when this occurs. Ivan still receives daily apparitions. Our lady asked him to pray especially for priests and the youth. He travels quite a bit around the USA to give talks. While in Medjugorje, his talks are sometimes held in the Yellow Hall. Podbrdo Apparition Hill The Visionaries (Ivanka Ivankovic – Elez) Ivanka was born on July 21, 1966. She has one brother and one sister. She was the first to see Our Lady on June 24, 1981 at the age of 14. She married Rajko Elez in 1986. They have three children, and live in Miletina, on the west side of Medjugorje. Ivanka received daily apparitions until May 7, 1985 at which time Our Lady entrusted to her the tenth secret, and promised to appear to her once a year on June 25th, the anniversary of the apparitions, for the rest of her life. This annual apparition takes place at her home. Our Lady asked her to pray especially for families. Ivanka very rarely speaks in public. The Visionaries (Jakov Colo) Jakov was born on March 6, 1971. Our Lady first appeared to him on June 25, 1981 when he was 10. In 1993 he married Annalisa Barazzi. They have three children, and live in Bijakovici, Medjugorje. Jakov received daily apparitions until September 12, 1998 on which day Our Lady entrusted to him the tenth secret, and promised to appear to him once a year on Christmas Day. Our Lady asked him to pray especially for the sick. Jakov is slowly coming out of his shyness, and once in a while gives talks to pilgrims outside his house through an interpreter. The Visionaries Vicka Mirjana Marija Ivan Ivanka Jakov Birth Date Sept. 9, 1964 March 18, 1965 April 1, 1965 May 25, 1965 July 21, 1966 March 6, 1971 Age on 06/24/81 16 16 16 16 14 10 Frequency 1 Daily Daily Until Dec 25, 1982 Daily Daily Daily Until May 7, 1985 Daily Until Sep 12, 1998 Annually On June 25th Anniversary Annually On Dec. 25th Christmas Day Frequency 2 Annually On March 18th Her Birthday Frequency 3 Daily Since August 2, 1987 Frequency 4 2nd of the Month For Non-Believers 25th of the Month For the World Secrets Received 9 All 10 9 9 All 10 All 10 Prayer Intentions Sick Non-Believers Souls in Purgatory Priests & Youth Families Sick No. Children 1 2 4 3 3 3 Mount Krizevac Cross Mountain Our Lady’s Monthly Messages On the 25th of each month, Our Lady appears to Medjugorje visionary Marija to give us Her message for the world. Download Our Lady's Messages from 1984-Present: ol84_now.pdf Search for Keywords in All of Our Lady's Messages Using our Concordance Tool. Search by Keyword through all Our Lady's messages. EXAMPLE - March 25, 2013 Message to Marija " Dear children! In this time of grace I call you to take the cross of my beloved Son Jesus in your hands and to meditate on His passion and death. May your suffering be united in His suffering and love will win, because He who is love gave Himself out of love to save each of you. Pray, pray, pray until love and peace begin to reign in your hearts. Thank you for having responded to my call." Our Lady’s Messages Ivan Dragicevic, in Kalamazoo Michigan, 1/31/2012 Never in my life will I ever forget that day. I think I am going to live 5 years less after that day. In that moment I could no longer go either forwards or backwards. My legs buckled underneath me. But in one moment, not with my strength, I ran over those bushes and shrubs, it was like we were floating. We didn't feel any kind of pain. We went closer to her. We came close to her. In her left hand she was holding Jesus. She took her right hand, and she was placing it on our heads, and she began to speak her first words. "Dear children, I am with you. I am your Mother. Do not be afraid of anything. I will protect you. I will help you. I will guide you." But it was difficult to calm down and come to our senses. One of the girls from among us, who was most relaxed, asked her, "Who are you and what is your name?" And she responded, "I am the Queen of Peace. And I have come, my dear children because God has sent me. My dear children, peace, peace, and only peace. There must be peace, my dear children. Peace must reign between God and man and between people. My dear children, this world and this humanity is finding itself in a great danger. There is a threat that it will destroy itself." Those were the first words; that was the first message that Our Lady gave through us to the world. On that second day we recognized in her our Mother, and to this day there are still three of us who see Our Lady. Our Lady’s Messages I give you the weapon against your Goliath, here are your little stones: Prayer Fasting Holy Mass The Bible Confession Prayer: Our Lady insists upon prayer. Prayer is a gift and a principal weapon given to the Church. Our Lady insists that prayer is needed in order to transform the world. Fasting: Another stone in your sack is fasting: from cigarettes, television, evil thoughts, negative projects and from food. Ideally fast on bread on water, Wednesdays and Fridays. Holy Mass: In May, Our Lady admonished us, “You do not know how to live the Mass.” The Mass is not simply a rite; it is a mystery and a gift of the Lord. Therefore you must not just listen to the Mass but live it. The Bible: Illuminates the path the Christian’s walk amid doubt and conflicting ideologies today. When do you read the Bible with your family? It must be set in a place of honour and that place must be sacred for us. Confession: Our Lady requests monthly confession of us. The purpose of Confession is not to recount one’s actions; it is not a psycho-analytical session. It is a sacrament and a source of peace with oneself in the meeting with the Lord. In Confession I obtain the peace of the Lord so that I may transmit it to others. Our Lady’s Closing Remarks to Mirjana in 2013 Pray for your Shepherds ! January 02, 2013 "Dear children...My children, pray for the shepherds. May your lips be shut to every judgment, because do not forget that my Son has chosen them and only He has the right to judge. Thank you." February 02, 2013 "Dear children ...Pray for your shepherds so that through your fasting and prayer they can lead you in love. Thank you." March 02, 2013 "Dear children! ...I am especially praying and watching over those whom my Son called to be light-bearers and carriers of hope for you - for your shepherds. Thank you." April 02, 2013 "Dear children, ...Again I am warning you, pray for those whom my Son called, whose hands He blessed and whom He gave as a gift to you. Pray, pray, pray for your shepherds. Thank you." May 02, 2013 "Dear children.... My children, my Son gave you a gift of the shepherds. Take good care of them. Pray for them. Thank you." June 02, 2013 "Dear children, ...Love your shepherds as my Son loved them when He called them to serve you. Thank you."*Our Lady said this resolutely and with emphasis. July 02, 2013 "Dear children, ...Dear children, extend the joy of love and support to your shepherds, just as my Son has asked them to extend it to you. Thank you." August 02, 2013 "Dear children, ...Again I am calling you to love your shepherds and to pray that, at this difficult time, the name of my Son may be glorified under their guidance. Thank you." September 02, 2013 "Dear children,..I am imploring Him that, through Him, you may be God's children and my apostles. Then with great concern Our Lady said: "For the sake of Jesus, for the sake of my Son, love those whom He has called and long for the blessing only from the hands which He has consecrated. Do not permit evil to come to reign. Anew I repeat - only along side your shepherds will my heart triumph. Do not permit evil to separate you from your shepherds. Thank you." October 02, 2013 "Dear children...Put your trust in your shepherds as my Son trusted when He chose them, and pray that they may have the strength and the love to lead you. Thank you." November 02, 2013 "Dear children, ...Pray for your shepherds that they may always have love for you as my Son had, and showed by giving His life for your salvation. Thank you." December 02, 2013 "Dear children...Pray for your shepherds and long to come to know the love of your Heavenly Father, in union with them. Thank you.“ SCIENTFIC FINDINGS (Source: MedjugorjeToday) The visionaries are normal and healthy The visionaries are by far the most scientifically examined seers ever in the history of Christian mysticism. Modern advancements in medical-scientific knowledge and equipment, have allowed doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and physicians, to study the visionaries and their apparitions as closely and accurately, as never before. Four major tests and examinations were performed by independent teams of scientists in 1984, 1985, 1998 and 2006 their results confirm and complement each other. Their conclusions were that they are absolutely healthy, normal people who only happen to have a most unusual experience. SCIENTFIC FINDINGS (Reference: MedjugorjeToday) 1981 - Dzudza Mulija, Psychiatrist from the hospital in Mostar According to visionary Vicka Ivankovic, she ended her examinations by telling the seers: “It is the people who brought you here that are insane. You are absolutely normal.” 1981 & 1989 - Dr. Nikola Bartulica, Psychiatrist, born in Croatia but lived in the US Interviewed Vicka and she answered spontaneously, without fear or hesitation, and you could see that this was a determined, completely normal person. “It does not take an expert though to tell that the children were normal, sincere, and that their experience was not invented.” 1984 - Dr. Lucia Capello, Italian - Examined the visionaries for three days in February and March 1984 “Their behavior seemed to conform perfectly with that of young people of their own age”, she concluded” 1984 – Medjugorje 3 Commission - Scientists & medical specialists headed by French Dr. Henri Joyeux Brought a battery of modern test equipment along to Medjugorje “The visionaries are psychologically healthy, without neurosis and hysteria. Their ecstacies are not a pathological phenomenon. It is a functional phenomenon that facilitates a valuable experience which is coherent, healthy, enlivening and, to the visionaries, human as well as spiritual”, “The phenomenon is scientifically inexplicable. The visionaries of Medjugorje are not drop-outs or dreamers, nor are they tired or anxious; they are free and happy, at home in their country and in the modern world. The ecstacies are not pathological, nor is there any element of deceit”, Dr. Joyeux later said before concluding: 1998 – Examined by a team of Austrian and Italian experts headed by Fr. Andreas Resch, an Austrian priest and professor of clinical psychology and paranormology at the Pontificial Lateran University in Rome. Fr. Resch and his team concluded that: “The seers enjoy optimal psychophysical health” “The visionaries enter during apparitions, a condition known throughout Christian history as spiritual ecstacy” The Medjugorje Secrets Shortly after the apparitions began, Our Lady entrusted the visionaries with information they were not allowed to share. ‘The Secrets’, a term that the visionaries themselves use. These are prophecies or future events foretold by Our Lady. According to the visionaries, these events will take place during their lifetimes. These events will be foretold to the world three days before they take place. Some are beautiful, while others are God’s punishment for the sins of mankind. Some are global in nature, some local and yet others relate to the Seers themselves. According to Mirjana, the dates are set and cannot be altered. Mirjana knows the timing of each event, down to the hour and minute. The visionaries do not fear, but prepare. They have indicated that this is a time of Grace. So far the reception of the (10th ) final secret has meant the end of daily apparitions for the visionaries who received them. This happened first to Mirjana (in 1982), then Ivanka (in 1985) and then Jakov (in 1998). Vicka, Marija and Ivan have only received nine secrets each and still have daily apparitions. The Medjugorje Secrets (cont’d) The first visionary to receive the tenth secret, Mirjana, was also entrusted with the mission of revealing her secrets to the world, when the time comes. She will do this through her spiritual director, Fr. Petar Ljubicic, whom she chose for this purpose in 1985. Ten days before each event she will alert Fr. Petar that an event is about to occur. Then the two of them will pray and fast for seven days. Three days before each event, Fr. Petar will make public what will happen, three days later. When Fr. Petar releases the first secret it “will make people pause and think”. Medjugorje – Photo Gallery Medjugorje – Photo Gallery Strange Phenomena MEDJUGORJE SUN HEART RESEMBLES DIVINE MERCY IMAGE This photo, taken by the Italian Medjugorje pilgrim Federica M in 2010, has literally captured the heart of professional photographer Daniel Miot, the best of his kind on the Medjugorje scene. Seeking to educate people a bit on photography, and to separate the wheat from the chaff among the many claimed-to-be-miraculous Medjugorje photos, Daniel has published his technical guidelines on the subject. This photo he recognizes as "beautiful", with the remark that the red and blue rays emaniting from each side of the heart-shaped sun resembles the iconic Divine Mercy image given to St. Faustina Kowalska. Strange Phenomena Strange Phenomena Distribution of Holy Communion Vatican Update on Medjugorje Commission ( Reference: Medjugorje Today – January 2014 ) January 17, 2014 - Almost four years after they began, the 17 members of the Vatican’s investigative Commission on the events of Medjugorje will reach their final conclusion. Members vote on which conclusion it should send to the Pope. January 20, 2014 - Commission make a favorable judgment an option, though in a partial form because the apparitions are ongoing. - Commission found real and significant fruits in the form of conversions and no evidence of fraud, deception or abuse. Cardinal Camillo Ruini Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller January 21, 2014 - Pope Francis’ ruling on Medjugorje can be expected this year. - Commission shared its opinion on whether to give Medjugorje shrine status or not. People are still free to visit Medjugorje. - Commission submitted the results to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) January 23, 2014 - Pope Francis received Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Chairman of the Medjugorje Commission, in a private audience. - And later that day the Pope received, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) References / Medjugorje Websites Since the Medjugorje Phenomenon started back in 1981, it has become well known worldwide and numerous websites have ‘sprung-up’ to spread Our Lady’s messages and Her call to conversion. Below are some of the more widely accessed websites that not only include Our Lady’s messages, but also include; background on the village and it’s Visionaries, reported miracles, photos, multimedia presentations, virtual tours and even ** live streaming video of some the events as they occur, plus much, much, more. May God Bless you on your journey to discern and live/re-live the Medjugorje Phenomenon and the messages of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, through the many resources below. Medjugorje (Official Website) ** Medjugorje Centre of Canada MaryTv ** Medjugorje Website ** Medjugorje Web Medjugorje.NET Mejugorje LIVE Medjugorje TODAY (On-Line News Agency) MaryForYouth (Stratford Ont) http://www.medjugorje.hr/en http://www.medjugorjeca.org/ http://marytv.tv/ http://www.medjugorje.ws/ http://www.medjugorje.org/ http://www.medjugorje.net/ http://www.medjugorjelive.org/ http://www.medjugorjetoday.tv/ http://www.maryforyouth.ca/ Testimonials MaryTV - Fruit of Medjugorje (More than 100 streaming videos) http://marytv.tv/fruit-of-medjugorje-episode-archive One of my personal favorites are the twins Linda and Dente from Denmark. During their first pilgrimage to Medjugorje, they brought 28 young people along with them. Since then they have formed a prayer group and organize regular pilgrimages to Medjugorge. It’s interesting to note that <1% of the population in Denmark are Catholics. Ref. Episode 80, Aug. 19, 2013. Medjugorje Centre of Canada http://www.medjugorjeca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=62 Mary For Youth http://www.maryforyouth.ca/experience.html WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON? St. John the Baptist Our Lady of Medjugorje WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON? St. John the Baptist Our Lady of Medjugorje Without Sin ??? Without Sin WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON? St. John the Baptist Our Lady of Medjugorje Without Sin ??? Without Sin On June 24th the Church Celebrates The Nativity of St. John the Baptist On June 24, 1981 Mary Appears for The First Time to the Visionaries WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON? St. John the Baptist Our Lady of Medjugorje Without Sin ??? Without Sin On June 24th the Church Celebrates The Nativity of St. John the Baptist On June 24th, 1981 Mary Appears for The First Time to the Visionaries "Repent and make way" “I desire to lead all of you” Announces the 1st Coming of Jesus Preparing us for the 2nd Coming ??? SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT !