Being that today is the feast day of St John the Baptist when Our Blessed Mother first appeared in Medjugorje, Forty Two years ago to the six visioneries who are now adults with children of their own.
I thought it would be nice to blog this testimony because there are still many people who have never heard of this special holy place.
In my first Book= Medjugorje a new beginning I tell the story of Medjugorje, and why I went there in 1990 ,and what happened to me while I was there.
This is just a brief summary for those who have never heard of Medjugorje.
It was on June 24, 1981, The feast day of St John the Baptist, that this little village was graced with an apparition of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Two teenage girls were walking along a path near what is known as Prodbredo Hill. One of the girls, Ivanka, age fifteen saw a light on the hill, and in the light she saw The Blessed Mary holding the baby Jesus. Ivanka became very excited, and called to her friend Mirjana, age sixteen, who had been walking a little ahead of her, and said to her” Mirjana Look up the hill, I see the Gospa” which in Croation means Our Lady. Mirjana did not want to look, because she was afraid, but Ivanka insisted, and said, ” I am not kidding you Mirjana I do see The Madonna.” Mirjana looked at Ivanka’s face and realized that Ivanka was serious. Both girls looked up the hill saw the Madonna, and fell to their knees.
Meanwhile another one of their friends Vicka, age fifteen, was walking by looking for them. When the girls saw Vicka, they called out to her, Vicka” look up the hill- it is Our Lady,” Vicka also became frightened and began running toward home. On her way, she came upon Ivan, a sixteen- year old boy whom she knew from school, he asked her why she was running? She told him that Ivanka and Mirjana said that they were seeing the Madonna on the hill, but she didn’t believe them, but now she wasen’t sure. She told Ivan that she wanted to go back and see for herself, and she asked him if he would go back with her? So together they ran to where Ivanka and Mirjana were. When Vicka, and Ivan looked up the hill, they were greeted with the vision of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
That evening the children told their parents what they saw, but they were not believed, in fact when Mirjana told her Grandmother what she saw, her Grandmother immediately told her -” Take your rosary, Go to your room and pray to God, and let Our Lady be where she is in heaven.”
The next day was the 25th of June, the children all coming from different places, felt compelled all at the same time, to return to the hill where they had seen the apparition. But on this occasion, Vicka brought two more of her friends. Marija, age fifteen, and ten year old Joko.
The children all looked up the hill, and the Modanna was they’re waiting for them. This time they were not afraid, they approached her.
And this is how the apparitions began, and from that day to this forty two years later, these young men and women who are now in their fifties are married with children of their own. They are known as the six children of Medjugorje.
Since the apparitions began millions of people of all faiths, from all over the world, and from all walks of life have left Medjugorje spiritual strengthened, and renewed. Many have received profound conversions. Many have also been healed body, mind and spirit.
And today the apparitions still continue.
On the second day of the apparitions the children asked the Blessed Mother why has she come? She responded,” I desire to be with you in order that the entire world may be converted and reconciled.”
She also told the children that her mission is one of ” Love and Peace, and that God has sent her. She has come to the earth to re-educate us, and to center our lives back to God.”
Medjugorje is known worldwide as the oasis of peace, and the Blessed Mother is known in Medjugorje as The queen of peace.
Many people like me, who have experienced Medjugorje in some way, have powerful and personal stories to share.
My story is just one of many.
