So glad you made the climb the very place I was inspired https://motheofgod.com/threads/the-mountain-of-life.4549/
I was told once that most shops are owned and run by Muslims who live mostly on neighboring villages. Of course Sunday has no special significance to them, their holy day being Friday.
It is up to devout Catholics to refuse to shop on Sunday. I didn't always recognize the seriousness of this but I do now. It took me way too long to break with the world on this. Now these days I just simply won't shop on Sunday. Unless its an emergency. I won't do house or yard work either. It's hard but its penance for all the years I ignored the 3rd commandment. the words of Our Lady of LaSallette are haunting especially when I drive home from Mass and see all the cars pulling into the mall parking lots.
Yes, it's very hard to swim against the tide of popular culture, the way we dress, the media we watch, the way we think. The Western World has turned pagan again and it is hard not to be a pagan. We see St Paul writing about this in acts, 'Come out from amongst them!' It strikes me that being surrounded by pagans can be a dangerous place to be, as our Fathers in the Faith once found.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain last night , thunderstorms and gentle rain today making it a lot cooler, thank God. The lights tend to flicker on and off as does the internet. Weird. I had the company of a couple of very loud mosquitos in my bedroom last night who bit were they could. My fault for leaving my room door open at dusk a while. Up at 4:30 before the heat and up to apparition hill. I find myself tempted by the devil here with temptations against the faith and a certain sadness. I was speaking to one of the recovering drug addicts and he said they all loved it here. But sometimes they felt feelings of desolation. I was tempted at the start of my climb to go back to a quiet little Chapel to pray there that it would be just as good. But I saw an elderly man coming down with great difficulty in his bare feet and this inspired me to wizz on up . It really was quite quick. Everything is easy after Krikevac. I saw a Ukrainian priest preaching to his flock with their blue and yellow flags which was touching. Also later I saw one in full white and gold Eastern Rite regalia which was gorgeous. Many of the Korean pilgrims still wear the COVID masks and do I mean masks...so so sad.
Apparition Hill is perhaps the heart of the Medugorje pilgrimage and it is not too hard to climb. There is a real sense of the holy. People seem to go naturally quiet in a kind of awe there. Next most important would be St James Church. I finally discovered there is 10am English speaking Mass there. Being on your own has it's disadvantages, being out of the loop. There are only , I think about 4 guests here at the moment in a place that could easily take 50. I am often unsure how to act. There is for instance hot water for coffee but no cups. Also I like to sit outside in the evenings before bed, but the staff like to sit there after dinner and I think I am being a nuisance.
Tomorrow is my last day here! Am I glad I came? Weeeeelll I thought Our Lady wanted me out here for some particular reason but it doesn't seem very like it now. So I can assume I was impulsive and mistaken. On the other hand Romans tell us that for those who love God all things work together unto the good. It has been a lovely adventure and spiritual pilgrimage. Have I learnt anything? Yes I have been reminded how good people can be and how very, very strong their Faith. I can't help feeling though that I am waiting for something...but it had better hurry up! Not much time left!!
