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For over 30 years, in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Hercegovina six trustworthy
witnesses, testify firmly under oath, that since the 24th of June 1981,
the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace, or "Gospa", as she is
affectionately known as here, appears to them every day up to the
present.
Since the apparitions began in 1981, millions of people of all faiths,
from all over the world, have visited Medjugorje and have left
spiritually strengthened and renewed. Countless unbelievers and
physically or mentally afflicted, have been converted and healed.
The First Day
On the 24th of June 1981, 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"... 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.
In the beginning Our Lady made her messages known to the visionaries on
a daily basis and through them to the whole world. Commencing from the
1st of March 1984, Our Lady began to give weekly messages on Thursdays
to the parish community in Medjugorje, and through them to the rest of
the world. Since some of the things that Our Lord desired were
fulfilled, as Our Lady said, from the 25th of January 1987 onwards, Our
Lady would give her message on the 25th of each month. This has
continued up until the present. |