Medjugorje today has a new Bishop. The Bishop of Hvar, Petar Palić, is the successor of the Bishop of Mostar and Duvanj, Ratko Perić. Palic was born in Pristina on July 3, 1972, to a Janjevac Croat family. After primary school, he attended the Classical Gymnasium in Skopje and Subotica, and the Catholic Theological Faculty in Zagreb. What is not stated in the biography, and what colleagues like to say about Palić, is that he is a good man. At the age of 48, he is also a young bishop, and he is expected to be a bishop in Mostar for a long time.
A prayer group has formed in preparation of the 365 days leading up to the 40th anniversary of the apparitions. It is regarded as a year-long novena. From medjugorje-info.com: The prayer program in the parish of Medjugorje, despite the lack of pilgrims due to closed borders, is extremely rich and varied. The prayer group "Gospa Majka moja", which is composed of the parishioners of the parish of Medjugorje and the surrounding parishes, promotes a series of prayer initiatives, such as the last week of prayer for priests. They spontaneously gathered in prayer and pilgrimages on foot during the "isolation wreath" and from 26 June, in increasing numbers, they joined in prayer for the 365th day preparation for the 40th anniversary of the apparitions of the Madonna which begin every morning at 5.00. with the prayer on the Apparition Hill. Prayer intentions vary from week to week and are always current and adapted to the needs of the moment. Every Sunday at 5.00 the rosary is prayed for Holy Father Francis and the Holy Catholic Church. From Monday 13 to Saturday 18 July also from 5.00 they will pray for the visionaries, their health and their families. On Monday 13 July special prayers were offered for Vicka Ivanković-Mijatović, who had an operation on her back in Zagreb. Today, July 14, they prayed for Marija Pavlović-Lunetti, who also had to return to Italy last week due to some medical tests. Subsequently, in the week of 20 to 25 July , they will pray for the parishioners of the parish of Medjugorje, since it is an intense week of preparation for the celebration of the feast of St. James, patron saint of the parish. The visionary Marija Pavlović Lunetti gave strong support to the 365-day prayer program in anticipation of the 40th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady, for which the participants in this "long novena" are particularly grateful......Therefore, the prayer group "Gospa Majka moja" invites everyone to join them in prayer..... "Those who pray are not afraid of the future and those who fast are not afraid of evil", Our Lady reminds us in her messages.
I am posting the July message on this thread just for the sake of completeness. July 25, 2020 Dear children! In this peaceless time in which the devil is harvesting souls to draw them to himself, I am calling you to persevering prayer, so that in prayer you discover the God of love and hope. Little children, take the Cross in your hands. May it be your encouragement for love to always win, in a special way now when the Cross and faith are rejected. You be a reflection and an example with your lives that faith and hope are still alive and a new world of peace is possible. I am with you and intercede for you before my Son, Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call. The Youth Festival of Medjugorje has begun. It runs from Aug 1- Aug 6. It will be a smaller festival then past years because of travel restrictions. August 2 is the Feast of Our Lady Queen of Angels. An important event happened on August 2, 1981 when Our Lady invited Marija and about 40 others to come to the meadow of Gumno to pray on that Sunday evening. As they prayed, Our Lady said 'everyone here may touch me'. Marija guided their hand to touch our Lady because the people could not see Our Lady, only Marija. As they touched her, the Blessed Mother's dress became dirty with stains. Marija was distressed and became sad. One of the adults suggested that everyone go to confession. The people did. The confessionals were crowded after the news spread around. There were many reconciliations made in the village, long held grudges dissolved and there was a new feeling of peace. Mirjana has said that August 2 is a significant feast day and that Gumno is a Croatian word that translates to 'threshing floor' in English. Threshing floor is referenced numerous times in Scripture and generally means a time of judgement. from a bible website: Both the Old and New Testaments refer to the threshing floor as a symbol of judgment. Hosea prophesied that, because Israel has repeatedly turned from God to false idols, His judgment upon them would scatter them to the winds as the chaff from the threshing floor. “Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window” (Hosea 13:3). Jeremiah pronounces a similar fate on the Babylonians who persecuted Israel, likening their fate to the trampled sheaves on the threshing floor (Jeremiah 51:33). John the Baptist uses the imagery of the threshing floor to describe the coming Messiah who would separate the true believers from the false. The true followers of Christ will be gathered into the kingdom of God just as grain is gathered into barns, while those who reject Christ will be burned up “with unquenchable fire,” just as the worthless chaff is burned (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17). The wicked are often described as chaff that the wind drives away (Psalm 1:4; Isaiah 17:13). Similar imagery of the good grain being separated from the worthless weeds appears in the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:36–43). May we continued to use this time of grace in the most pleasing ways to our Lord.
as we inch closer to approval, Pope Francis wrote a letter to be read to those attending the 31st annual Youth Festival in Medjugorje. Here is the letter from the St. James Parish website Dear youth! The annual encounter of the youth in Medjugorje is the time filled with prayer, catechesis and fraternal meeting, which gives you the opportunity to meet the living Jesus Christ, in a special way, in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It thus helps you discover a different way of life, different from that offered by the culture of the temporary, according to which nothing can be permanent, and which knows only the pleasure of the present moment. In this atmosphere of relativism, in which it is difficult to find true and sure answers, the motto of the Festival: »Come, and you shall see« (Jn 1,39), the words used by Jesus to address his disciples, are a blessing. Jesus is also looking at you, inviting you to come and stay with Him. Do not be afraid! Christ lives and wants you to be alive. He is the true beauty and youth of this world. Everything He touches becomes young, new, full of life and meaning (cf. Apostolic exhortation. Christus vivit, 1). This is exactly what we see in the Gospel scene, in which the Lord asks two disciples following Him: »What are you looking for?«. They answer: »Rabbi, where do you live?«, and Jesus tells them: »Come, and you shall see« (cf. Jn 1,35-39). They came, they saw, and they stayed. The experience of meeting Jesus was so imprinted in the disciples’ memory that one of them even recorded the time of the meeting: »It was around four o'clock in the afternoon« (v. 39). The Gospel describes how, after being in the house of the Lord, the two disciples became »mediators« who made it possible for others to meet, know and inherit Him. Andrew immediately went to share his experience with his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus. The Teacher, seeing him, gave him the nickname: »Keffa«, ie. »the Rock«, which will become the personal name of Peter (cf. Jn 1: 40-42). This shows how in the encounter with Jesus, we become a new person and we receive a mission to pass on the experience onto others, but with a view always focused on Him, on the Lord. Dear youth, have you met this gaze of Jesus asking you: »What are you looking for?« Have you heard His voice speaking to you: »Come, and you shall see«? Have you felt the urge to set off? Spend this time with Jesus, to be filled with His Spirit and thus become ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Set off to meet Him, stay with Him in prayer, confide in Him as He knows the human heart. The beautiful call of the Lord: »Come, and you shall see«, which was conveyed to us by the young and beloved disciple of Christ, is also addressed to all future disciples. Jesus invites you to meet Him, and this Festival is an opportunity to »come and see«. The word »come«, in addition to pointing to physical movement, has more profound spiritual meaning. It points to the course of faith whose ultimate goal is to »see«, that is, to experience the Lord and thanks to Him to see the full and final meaning of our existence. The great example of the Church of the Young Heart, ready to follow Christ with new freshness and fidelity, always remains the Virgin Mary. The power of Her »yes« and Her »let it be unto me« which she said before the angel delights at all times. Her »yes« means to participate and take risks, without any guarantee other than the certainty in the knowledge that she is the bearer of the promise. Her »Behold the handmaid of the Lord« (Lk 1,38), the most beautiful example that tells us what happens when a man, in his freedom, surrenders himself into God's hands. Let this example inspire you and be your guide! Mary is the Mother who watches »over us, her children who walk through life often overwhelmed by fatigue, in need, but with the desire for the light of hope never to be extinguished. This is our wish: may that light of hope never vanish. Our Mother sees these pilgrim people, the young people who love, who seek in silence, despite the fact that there is so much noise, chatter and distraction « (Christus vivit, 48). Dear youth, »run attracted by that Face we love so much, whom we worship in Eucharist and recognize in the body of our suffering brothers and sisters. May the Holy Spirit encourage you in that race in which you go forward. The Church needs your momentum, your intuition, your faith « (op. cit., 299). In this race for the Gospel, inspired by this Festival as well, I entrust you to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, invoking the light and the power of the Holy Spirit so that you may be true witnesses of Christ. Therefore, I pray and I bless you, asking you to pray for me, too.
the seer Ivan D. addressed the young people attending the Youth Festival in Medjugorje. Here is a rough translation of his remarks courtesy of Medjugorje Every Day Message from the visionary Ivan Dragičević for the 31st Youth Festival "I expect to cross this world only once. Any good I can do, or any kindness I can show to any other creature, let me do it now ... because I won't go this way again." Dear priests, dear friends in Christ, and especially the young people so tender and dear to my heart. I want to greet you from the heart in a special way during this unusual Mladifest (youth festival) in which we pray and celebrate the love of Jesus and Mary. Our Lady says: "Those who pray should not be afraid of the future". We must not be afraid. My dear young people, you must not fear the future. All events are in the hands of God. Jesus invites you to trust in Him and to pray, to talk to Him and share it in your heart. We have entered a difficult period in the Church and in the world. But let us remember that during this period we were born in the wisdom of God. Our Lady continues saying: "Children, I need you to help me realize my plans". This call is also for you. Our Lady cares about young people in a special way, like the pupil of her eyes. She loves you with tender love. It is very difficult to describe the love she has for you and when she looks at you, one by one. It is an indescribable love, so beautiful, so tender, so exalted. Our Lady needs you. You should first open your heart to prayer. Pray more heartily. In one of her messages, Our Lady said: "... especially the young people of this parish are more active in their prayers". She also said on another occasion: "I especially want to tell young people to be more open to the Holy Spirit, because God wants to draw you to Himself in these days when satan is at work". Our Lady constantly watches over you, guides you constantly, more than ever in these turbulent times. The Queen of Peace asks everyone to return to God. My dear young people, the world cannot offer the hope and peace that Christ gives. True peace only comes from Jesus. Jesus is your peace. Pray for this peace. Restless times are born in the hearts of people who don't know about God. This doesn't have to be for you. Open your hearts and pray, pray, pray to get to know God better and that everyone can feel that love and peace of God with your example. Prayer in Christ brings peace to the heart. Only when the soul finds peace in God, will it be satisfied. Today, my dear young people, live this message of peace and hope, for everyone, in your families, friends, for your world. My dear young people, you often receive the sacraments, especially confession and the Eucharist. The sacraments are your renewal and your strength. My dear young people, pray the Rosary constantly. With the Rosary you will overcome all the misfortunes that satan is trying to inflict on you and the world. Respond daily to his call to the prayer of the Rosary. The Rosary brings you peace. My dear young people, take the time to worship Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Spend time in silence to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more clearly in your lives. My dear young people, live the messages of the Queen of Peace. Become an excellent student in the school of love. Do not be afraid, "those who pray must not fear the future". Jesus says in the scriptures: don't be afraid. Jesus sends his Mother and tells her to tell the children not to be afraid. Our Lady comes here - Our Lady comes in a special way to invite the young people of the world to pray for Peace. She needs you. You are the future of the Church; you are the future of the world. And a world of peace is possible. It is possible through you. Don't wait for someone else to start, it will be a waste of time. Start today and follow the call of Our Lady and live better her messages. God bless you. United in prayer, dear young people, I introduce you to Mary during these Days, our Mother "Queen of Peace", God bless you. Ivan Dragičević
The youth festival was held in Medjugorje from Aug. 1- Aug 6. The in person attendance was down due to travel restrictions from Covid 19, however, many more people followed online streaming of the Masses, prayers and homilies. Medjugorje-info.com gives the statistics and explanation: This year, unlike last year, due to the COVID 19 pandemic which prevented the arrival of many interested pilgrims, the program has been shortened and mostly adapted to virtual transmission through the official channels of the parish: MEDIA MIR MEDJUGORJE, their radio, live streaming and Youtube channels, then through Croatian Laudato TV, English Mary TV, Arabic Telelumiere, and through private channels translated into Chinese, Hungarian and Slovenian. Every evening of Mladifest this year, the program was followed by over 3.5 million faithful and the largest number of connections were recorded during the last day of Mladifest on August 5, 2020, when the Mass was celebrated by the Cardinal Vinko Puljić. To that day, the parish official statistics recorded the connection of 4.4 million (4,401,171) IP addresses. Here is what the numbers divided into language groups looked like on August 5, 2020: Spanish 713.188 Italian 589.416 French 411,886 Croatian 823.337 German 1,401,216 English 105,692 Polish 201.433 Slovak 105,637 Russian 39,447 Korean 9,919 These are just statistics recorded by the official channels of the parish of Medjugorje, with no other official and private foreign channels, so it is assumed that the number of involvement was actually much higher. It is to be hoped that the strong messages of this year's Mladifest and Our Lady's renewed call for conversion and prayer through technology have truly reached every corner of the world. Who not only have arrived, but will live because only "Those who pray are not afraid of the future!" - Our Lady says, and today we all need her encouragement.
We often bewail the modernist push within the Church of Germany. Look at the number of German-speaking connections made on Aug 5th to Medjugorje! 1, 401, 216! The most from any one language group! Alleluia! Definitely not fake news! O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to me!
Favorite gospel quotes to support Medjugorje. Matthew 9 They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. 13Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners. Matthew 18 What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? 13And if it so be that he find it: Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.... We need to love the sinners and hate the sin. Our Lady is calling us to this.
Message, 25. August 2020 “Dear children! This is a time of grace. I am with you and anew am calling you, little children: return to God and to prayer until prayer will be a joy for you. Little children, you do not have a future or peace until your life begins with a personal conversion and a change to the good. Evil will cease and peace will begin to reign in your hearts and in the world. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray. I am with you and intercede before my Son Jesus for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
La santisima Virgen dice que estamos en tiempo de gracia. Por tanto todavia no ha empezado el tiempo de la justicia. Tambien destaca la importancia de la oracion. Hay que rezar mucho porque mucha gente no reza nada.
October 25, 2020 message ''Dear children, At this time, I am calling you to return to God and to prayer. Invoke the help of all the saints, for them to be an example and a help to you. Satan is strong and is fighting to draw all the more hearts to himself. He wants war and hatred. That is why I am with you for this long, to lead you to the way of salvation, to Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Little children, return to the love for God and He will be your strength and refuge. Thank you for having responded to my call.'' ++++++++++++ I'm glad that Our Lady said God is our refuge in this message. The Marine base near where we live as been quite active in training the last few days with many detonations going off frequently during the morning, day and into the evening for training.
I wonder if a war is close in time. Because of what our Lady says. The remedy is prayer, and going to the saints, particularly the rosary.
Message, 25. February 2021 “Dear children! God has permitted me to be with you also today, to call you to prayer and fasting. Live this time of grace and be witnesses of hope, because I repeat to you, little children, that with prayer and fasting also wars can be suppressed. Little children, believe and live this time of grace in faith and with faith; and my Immaculate Heart does not leave any of you in peacelessness if you have recourse to me. I intercede for you before the Most High and I pray for peace in your hearts and for hope for the future. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Prayer and fasting can stop wars. Impressive phrase of Our Lady. It is not the first time she says that. I wonder: is a war close in time?
other messages pertaining to fasting to stop wars: July 21, 1982 "The best fast is on bread and water. Through fasting and prayer, one can stop wars, one can suspend the laws of nature. Charity cannot replace fasting. Those who are not able to fast can sometime replace it with prayer, charity, and a Confession; but everyone, except the sick, must fast." January 25, 2001 "Dear children! Today I call you to renew prayer and fasting with even greater enthusiasm until prayer becomes a joy for you. Little children, the one who prays is not afraid of the future and the one who fasts is not afraid of evil. Once again, I repeat to you: only through prayer and fasting also wars can be stopped -- wars of your unbelief and fear for the future. I am with you and am teaching you little children: your peace and hope are in God. That is why draw closer to God and put Him in the first place in your life. Thank you for having responded to my call." February 25, 2003 "Dear children! Also today I call you to pray and fast for peace. As I have already said and now repeat to you, little children, only with prayer and fasting can wars also be stopped. Peace is a precious gift from God. Seek, pray, and you will receive it. Speak about peace and carry peace in your hearts. Nurture it like a flower which is in need of water, tenderness, and light. Be those who carry peace to others. I am with you and intercede for all of you. Thank you for having responded to my call."
I usually pray. But fasting has always cost me a lot. It's hard for me. Although our lady speaks of taking bread and water (not completely stop eating).
Mensagem especial da vidente Marija Pavlovic em 07/03/2021 For people who speak portuguese Message in English after 12mins
Message, 25. May 2021 “Dear children! Today I am looking at you and calling: return to God because He is love and out of love has sent me to you to lead you on the way of conversion. Leave sin and evil, decide for holiness and joy will begin to reign; and you will be my extended hands in this lost world. I desire that you be prayer and hope to those who have not come to know the God of love. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Interview with Archbishop Henryk Hoser on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the apparitions of our Lady as Queen of Peace Fr. Łukasz Gołaś SAC: I greet Archbishop Msgr. Henryk Hoser on this important day, on the 40th Anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions in Medjugorje, June 24-25. This is a very important anniversary, it is important time in Medjugorje where pilgrims arrived, but I think it is important all over the world too. Archbishop Msgr. Henryk Hoser, SAC: Undoubtedly, this is a great anniversary for all the pilgrims who come to Medjugorje from all over the world in great numbers, so this joy expands internationally too. I would like to draw your attention that number 40 has a biblical meaning, it is a time when something important takes place. Indeed, something happened in this place, it still goes on and it is developing furthermore. This interview was posted on the Saint James parish website medjugorje.hr then click on 'English' I can say that everything started with a testimony of six young people, children, teenagers, who claimed that they had seen Our Lady on the hill called Apparition Hill today: Our Lady introduced herself as the Queen of Peace, invited us to conversion, penance, life in the harmony with God and spreading of peace in the world. The visionaries initially met as a group, later, as the time passed, they had different, individual experiences, encounters with Our Lady, as they call it, some experiences that referred only to them. That is the basic theme, while the apparitions as such were not recognised by the Church. These apparitions have completely different character than “classic” apparitions that took place in Lourdes or in Fátima. This is one of the reasons why the Church is not rushing with its judgment. The messages of Our Lady are nothing new, she invites to conversion all the time, to prayer, fasting, penance, life according to the sacraments, so that we may discover Jesus Christ in our lives. When she speaks about unbelievers, she does not use that word, but she says those are people who did not get to know the love of God yet. So, the phenomenon of Medjugorje began 40 years ago. This spirituality and this place was first discovered by people who lived here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and then this spirituality expanded to the rest of the world. Around 2 millions of people were coming to Medjugorje before this pandemic, this is a very famous place that attracts many pilgrims from all over the world. It is a very important place for Southeast Balkans, just like Częstochowa is famous in Poland. People come to Medjugorje to confess, they come here on big feasts. Even in the time of pandemic, local pilgrims were here at Holy Masses and celebrations. Thanks to all this, Medjugorje radiates unique and special atmosphere. 40 years had passed and those were 40 years of maturing and growing, there were three different periods. The first period, the time of former Yugoslavia, the reign of communism regime, somehow can be compared to Fátima, for the regime persecuted the visionaries and priests who took care of them. The priest at that time was sentenced to two years of prison just because he protected, defended Medjugorje and refused to declare all as a lie, but claimed it was the truth. So, this was quite difficult period, similar to Fátima, where police and state services, led by masons, persecuted the children there, while the persecution here was initiated by the communists. The second period was the period of the war. The war was in Medjugorje itself, that place remained peaceful, however, Medjugorje was the source of strength for all the people and it was the source of material help, because the humanitarian aid came from it, mostly from Italy. This aid was given to the places that needed it the most. After the war, a young state of Bosnia and Herzegovina was developed as a result of Dayton Peace Accord, this was the state made of three religious entities, Muslims, who are most numerous, Orthodox and Roman Catholics at the south of the country. The geographic context of Medjugorje is such, while Medjugorje invites to peace, to unity. In any case, this place is modest when it comes to architecture, it is far more modest than Lourdes or Fátima, if we take into consideration when the apparitions took place in those places. Here we have a terrain of a simple triangle, on one corner we have the parish church, second is Apparition Hill and the third one is Cross Mountain, place where 8 meters cross was erected in 1933, on the occasion of the Jubilee 1900th Anniversary of the Passion of our Lord. Due to pandemic, the number of pilgrims was reduced, but they kept on coming, of course from the neighbouring countries. The number of pilgrims is increasing now and for the 40th Anniversary many of them are here, at least 50 buses from Poland, 30 buses from Ukraine, so pilgrims are back again in this place. What is typical of Medjugorje is that longing to return again, those who came once, keep coming back. Indeed, many are returning for several times here. I know one man from Archdiocese of Warsaw, who was coming to Medjugorje at least once a month. This is true phenomenon for me. For me that is the most appropriate expression – phenomenon. Why? First of all, because the apparitions are not recognised yet, and then because Medjugorje does not have any official status, this is just a parish, nothing more. It does not have the status of a shrine, not even destination of pilgrims, but this place has been de facto recognised by the Church. Thanks to Pope Francis, we have decrees that have given certain legal image to Medjugorje, the Apostolic Visitor with the special role for Medjugorje parish has been appointed, later on decision was made that all restrictions on organisation of pilgrimages were removed and coming of bishops and cardinals was allowed, all of them including priests can officially organise the pilgrimages and celebrate the liturgy in this place. Therefore, we have de facto those elements that function and enable pilgrims to come in the easier way, however their arrival is a bit different now. This year we are also planning the Youth Festival to be held, it would be modest than before. Some bishops cannot come to this year’s Festival for various reasons, but there is continuous arrival of some, and I need to express my gratitude to local community of Franciscans. Their role is like of those of Pauline Fathers in Częstochowa, thanks to them and their perseverance, Medjugorje is still developing and growing. Fr. Łukasz Gołaś SAC: Msgr. archbishop, in these days, on June 24 and 25, there would be many people in Medjugorje. Do you have a message for all those who are there and take part in this great Anniversary? Msgr. Henryk Hoser, SAC: The first thing that Our Lady said in Medjugorje – the invitation to penance, conversion, peace and discovering of Jesus Christ in our lives. The second very important aspect that functions in Medjugorje is a life according to the sacraments. Often, our daily life is deprived of the sacraments. We could say our lives are over-humanistic and not so religious, particularly in the terms of faith and Christianity. This place reminds us how important relationship of man and God is. We have different horizontal relations with other people, relations that are more developed or perhaps not so much, but this relationship with God has been very much neglected. It is made of the immediate contact between God and man, expressed in daily prayer and the appropriate way of life. We need to give witness in our Christian culture, in our behaviour, our individual and social morality. This was emphasised already in the apostolic time. I think these elements are very much present in Medjugorje message and people always gladly return to their daily lives, carrying in their hearts those fruits they received in the course of their pilgrimages. This interview was posted on the Saint James Parish website medjugorje.hr then click on 'English'
