THE MEDJUGORJE WITNESS

• Throughout the world, countless people choose to believe in the Medjugorje phenomenon and have changed their lives by doing so. Not all make pilgrimages to Medjugorje but instead accept the testimony of those who return from the small village and want to witness to all they have seen and heard there.

Others are able to ‘come and see’ for themselves and visit the well of Living Water.

God thirsts for his people. We thirst for God.

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (St Augustine).

It is said that prayer is the encounter between God’s thirst and ours.

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman who arrived at the well to draw water, he was tired and thirsty and he asked the woman for a drink.

In her conversation, her prayer with Jesus at the well, the woman discovers he is the Messiah. “I am he” said Jesus.

The Samaritan woman hurried back to her town to tell the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did; I wonder if he is the Christ?” This brought people out of the town and they started walking towards Jesus (setting out on their pilgrimage journey.)

Many Samaritans of that town had believed in him on the strength of the woman’s testimony when she said, “He told me all I have ever done,” so, when the Samaritans came up to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed for two days, and when he spoke to them many more came to believe; and they said to the woman, “Now we no longer believe because of what you told us; we have heard him ourselves and we know that he really is the saviour of the world.” (John 4 : 1-42)

Listening to and speaking with Jesus is prayer.

At Medjugorje, the presence of Our Lady is always accompanied by the Holy Spirit, Living Water that becomes a spring inside the pilgrim, welling up to eternal life; the same Spirit that came down upon the apostles at Pentecost and gave them the gift of speech, to speak of and witness to all that they had seen and heard; the same Spirit who spoke to “Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs…” (Acts 2 : 1-13) the same Spirit who still speaks to pilgrims from all over the world who travel to Medjugorje and return home and speak about the marvels of God in their own language to their own people.

Medugorje is a perpetual Pentecost.

Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again; but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life. (John 4 : 14)

Mary said to the angel, “But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?” “The Holy Spirit will come upon you” the angel answered “and the power of the the Most High will cover you with its shadow…” (Luke 1 : 34-35)

• Dear children! The Most High is giving me the grace that I can still be with you and to lead you in prayer towards the way of peace. Your heart and soul thirst for peace and love, for God and his joy. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray and in prayer you will discover the wisdom of living. I bless you all and intercede for each of you before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, June 25, 2014

• THE APOSTOLIC PENITENTIARY, with the purpose of increasing the piety of the faithful and the salvation of souls, by virtue of the faculties bestowed upon him in a most special way by our Most Holy Father in Christ Our Lord, POPE FRANCIS, BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE, attentively considering the recent petitions presented by His Excellency ALDO CAVALLI, Titular Archbishop of Vibo, Apostolic Visitor for the Parish of Saint James the Apostle in Medjugorje, of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, graciously grants a PLENARY INDULGENCE from the treasury of the Church's heavenly mercy, under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff), to the faithful who are truly penitent and moved by charity, which they can obtain throughout the Ordinary JUBILEE YEAR OF 2025, and which they can also use as a prayer for the souls of the faithful in purgatory if they make a pilgrimage to the PARISH CHURCH OF ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE IN MEDJUGORJE and devoutly participate in the Jubilee rites there or at least dedicate appropriate time to pious prayers, including the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and the invocations of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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The elderly, the infirm, and all those who for serious reasons cannot leave their homes, can likewise obtain the Plenary Indulgence, having conceived the intention of detachment from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling, as soon as they are able, the three usual conditions, if they spiritually unite themselves to the jubilee celebrations, offering their prayers, sufferings, or the inconveniences of their own lives to the merciful God.

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Therefore, to facilitate access to divine forgiveness through the keys of the Church out of pastoral charity, this Penitentiary earnestly requests that priests endowed with appropriate faculties to hear confessions make themselves available with a prompt, generous, and merciful spirit for the celebration of Penance.

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This decree is valid throughout the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025. No contrary provisions shall hinder its execution.

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Given in Rome, at the Apostolic Penitentiary, on the 24th day of December, in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 2024.

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Angelo Cardinal de Donatis
Major Penitentiary

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Krzysztof Józef Nykiel
Titular Bishop of Velli, Regent

• There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine line and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” 

“My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop any crossing from your side to ours.”

The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” 

“They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them.”

“Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent”

Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”

Luke 16 : 19-31

• Dear children! Pray with me for peace, because Satan wants war and hatred in hearts and peoples. Therefore, pray and sacrifice your days by fasting and penance, that God may give you peace. The future is at a crossroads, because modern man does not want God. That is why mankind is heading to perdition. You, little children, are my hope. Pray with me, that what I began in Fatima and here may be realised. Be prayer and witness peace in your surroundings, and be people of peace. Thank you for having responded to my call. 

Medjugorje message, January 25, 2023

• Oh, how the old gold has tarnished that gold so fine!

The sacred stones now lie scattered at the corner of every street.

Lamentations 4 : 1

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• What gain is it for a man to win the whole world and ruin his life?

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Mark 9 : 36​​

Never have grudges against each other, or lose your temper, or raise your voice to anybody or call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness.

Ephesians 5 : 25, 31

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With the annual apparition to the Medjugorje seer Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo just a month away, I’m wondering if any significance to the date of March 18 could relate to a possible settlement of the Russian-Ukraine war.

Mirjana has stated in the past that her annual apparition on March 18 has nothing to do with her birthday being on the same date – “Gospa does not come to say happy birthday”, she says – someway confirmed by reports of the seer’s tears and sadness at receiving the news on her birthday in 2021 that Our Lady would not appear to her again on the 2nd day of every month as she had been doing for many years. Happy birthday? Not for Mirjana.

Many have wondered what the significance of March 18 is about Mirjana’s annual apparition. The seer, if she knows exactly, isn’t saying so, but she has said the date is related to the ten ‘secrets’ given to her by Our Lady, and when these are announced the world will understand why Our Lady chose this date.

Mirjana’s announcement on March 18, 2021, saying Our Lady would no longer appear to her on the second day of each month, coincided with another significant declaration made earlier on the same day, an order from the Headquarters of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the two political identities that compose Bosnia and Herzegovina (the other being Republika Srpska), banning all public gatherings. This would have impacted on the seer’s monthly prayer gatherings on Apparition Hill.

The Federation was created by the 1994 Washington Agreement, designed to end hostilities between Croats and Bosniaks during what became known as the Bosnian War.

The agreement was signed on March 18.

March 18, 1965 – Mirjana’s birthday.
March 18, 1983 – Start of annual apparitions to Mirjana.
March 18, 1994 – Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina formed with the Washington Agreement.
March 18, 2020 – Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina orders ban on public gatherings.
March 18, 2020 – Our Lady tells Mirjana she will no longer receive monthly apparitions.

March 18, 2025 – ???

Grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power. Put God’s armour on so as to be able to resist the devil’s tactics. For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness in this world, the spiritual arm of evil in the heavens. That is why you must rely on God’s armour, or you will not be able to put up any resistance when the worst happens, or have enough resources to hold your ground.

So stand your ground, with truth buckled round your waist, and integrity for a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to put out the burning arrows of the evil one. And then you must accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the word of God from the Spirit to use as a sword.

Pray at all times, asking for what you need, praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all the saints… Paul’s letter to the Ephesian 6 : 10-18

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• The above image is a copy by an unknown artist, later modified by the Dutch painter Reubens, of the lost fresco by Leonardo da Vinci depicting the Battle of Anghiari. As to the identity of the soldier under the shield, its a reference to Leonardo’s rival Michelangelo and his famous sculpture of David who slayed Goliath.

As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and say, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man. “Courage,” they said “get up; he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabbuni,” the blind man said to him “Master, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has saved you.” And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road. Luke 18 : 35-43

• Losing sight of Jesus is not uncommon among those who have started out in faith. For whatever reason, the once-close relationship can disappear. Perhaps our God has not come up to expectations. In disappointment, maybe in anger, our hurting heart turns elsewhere in an attempt to find happiness. And the blindness begins to set in. We start to hold out our hand to receive the transient offerings of the passing world. But no-one ever asks us what we would really like to receive, because the world is only interested in selling us its need. Who but God alone, maker of our heart, can truly know our heart’s desire?

And in our loneliness we reflect on the past relationship we had with God. Was it really that bad? If only I could get the chance to meet with him again? Perhaps this time things would be different? But how? And then an angel of the Lord mentions Medjugorje and the wonderful Godly experiences that are happening there. And so the journey of reconciliation begins...

We know there are countless pilgrims who journey to Medjugorje with their heart silently crying: “Lord, restore me, restore my sight. Let me see again.”

In our searching soul we sense that Jesus will not pass us by when we acknowledge him and call out his name. Our ‘yes’ to pilgrimage is confirmation of this desire to find him. So should we be surprised when Jesus responds to our call with his loving words: “Your faith has saved you, receive your sight!”?

How many millions of times has a loving relationship with Jesus been re-ignited at Medjugorje with these beautiful words of love? “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Dear children! Today the Lord permitted me to tell you again that you live in a time of grace. You are not conscious, little children, that God is giving you a great opportunity to convert and to live in peace and love. You are so blind and attached to earthly things and think of earthly life. God sent me to lead you toward eternal life. I, little children, am not tired, although I see that your hearts are heavy and tired for everything that is a grace and a gift. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message,October 25, 2006

Dear children! These days I call you especially to open your hearts to the Holy Spirit. Especially during these days the Holy Spirit is working through you. Open your hearts and surrender your life to Jesus so that he works through your hearts and strengthens you in faith. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, May 25, 1985

Little children, believe and pray that the Father increase your faith, and then ask for whatever you need. I am with you and I am rejoicing because of you conversion and I am protecting you with my motherly mantle. Thank you for having responded to my call. part Medjugorje message, April 25, 1988

Dear children! Pray with me for a new life for all of you. In your hearts , little children, you know what needs to be changed. Return to God and His Commandments, so that the Holy Spirit may change your lives and the face of this earth, which is in need of renewal in the spirit. Little children, be prayer for all those who do not pray; be joy for all those who do not see the way out; be carriers of light in the darkness of this peaceless time. Pray and seek the help and protection of the saints so that you also could yearn for Heaven and Heavenly realities. I am with you and am protecting and blessing all of you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, May 25, 2020

By listening, I place myself in a position to listen to others: those who have no voice, who are marginalised; listening to those who are close to me, who often become frustrated because of my ‘deafness’; listening to the Word of God with open ears and heart; listening through prayer and fasting. It is only by listening that I am able to respond. This is why Our Lady always says at the end of her messages: “Thank you for responding to my call.” If I listen, I will respond. If I don’t listen, then there will be little or no response – and then I shall find myself walking into brick walls because with deafness comes blindness.

Not listening has its consequences. What happens when a husband and wife fail to listen to each other, or when parents fail to listen to their children, or children fail to listen to parents? And then there are the times we complain about the state of the world or our circumstances. Is nobody listening? Can’t anyone do something? It can be very frustrating when no-one wants to listen to us. There are even moments when we wrongly conclude that God and Our Lady are not listening.

But what I have come to understand is that not listening is the first sign of a closed heart. Our Lady says that we do not know how to love because we do not know how to listen to her words with love. She says she has come to earth to teach us to listen out of love, to listen and to live her messages.

• “May your heart be prepared to listen to, and live, everything which the Holy Spirit has in his plans for each of you.” part Medjugorje message, May 25, 1998

In today’s Gospel reading (Mark 5 : 21-22) a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for 12 years seeks out Jesus for healing. She believes if she can even touch his clothes she will be well again. The woman does this and her faith draws power and healing from Jesus. The source of the bleeding dries up immediately.

A similarity to this account is evident at Medjugorje. 

The haemorrhaging comes from the Risen Saviour sculpture; not blood, but water (although there are claims as well of a blood-coloured substance oozing from the leg of the towering sculpture). On occasions, also, the flow of water dries up. 

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have made their way to the sculpture since it was erected in 2002; pushing, pressing, and patiently waiting in queues so as to be able to touch the bronze body that weeps water from the right knee; and many pilgrims report and claim healings. 

While there is still a mystery surrounding why the sculpture has been ‘weeping’ in this way for almost the same length of years as the woman haemorrhaged, there is no denying that much faith is placed in the healing power associated with this unusual source of water seepage.

Pilgrims can be seen on their knees in prayer at the feet of the sculpture; others sit, watch and pray silently on the surrounding seats. Many will be blessed to hear in their heart the words: “My child, your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint.” 

In the same Gospel reading, Jesus commands a twelve-year-old girl to rise from her bed after the parents had been informed their daughter was already dead. Jesus tells them not to be afraid but only have faith, that the child is not dead but asleep. He takes the child’s hand and she gets up at once to walk about. This was also a sign for the people to believe in the Resurrection. 

Medjugorje is a place of Resurrection for many whose spirit has been entombed and placed in darkness. Apart from the claimed miracles associated with the Risen Saviour sculpture is it any wonder that people return home with a revived spirit and cannot refrain from speaking of all they have seen and heard?

According to the legendary Acts of St Blaise, while Blaise was being taken into custody, a distraught mother, whose only child was choking on a fish bone, threw herself at his feet and implored his intercession. Touched by her distress, he offered up his prayers, and the child was cured. Traditionally, Saint Blaise is invoked for protection against injuries and illnesses of the throat.

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In many places, on his feast day the blessing of St. Blaise is given: two candles (sometimes lit), blessed on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas), are held in the form of a cross by a priest over the heads of the faithful or the people are touched on the throat with them. At the same time the following blessing is given: “Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness”. Then the priest makes the sign of the cross over the faithful.

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source: Wikipedia

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Luke 2 : 22-24

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• Detail from a painting by Ambrogio Lorenzetti (1342), Uffizi, Florence

It was Fr Brendan’s fifth pilgrimage to Medjugorje. He had never climbed Cross Mountain or Apparition Hill, not even made his way to the Blue Cross. And it wasn’t because he didn’t want to. His physical capability just wouldn’t allow him.

That was until one day when he was asked if he would like to be carried up one of the hills. “I’d love that,” he responded.

And so enquiries were made as to how and when this might be possible. The Cenacolo Community was approached as it was known that the men there sometimes helped carry people in a sedan chair. But on the first approach no definite decision could be reached because of other commitments by the community.

As the week rolled by it looked less likely that Fr Brendan’s dream would materialise but then three days before we were due to return home we were informed that if the weather was suitable (not raining) then Fr Brendan should be brought to the base of Apparition Hill the next morning at 7:00am. There was some rain during the evening prior and we prayed that everything would clear up by the morning.

It did, and so after Fr Brendan, Ian and myself sat down for breakfast at 6:00am we arranged for a taxi to take us to the base of Apparition Hill in good time for the meet-up with the young men from Cenacolo.

Just after the appointed time the boys from the Cenacolo Community were spotted making their way towards us and we were all very happy to see them. Introductions were made and it was agreed that Fr Brendan would be set down at each station of the Joyful Mysteries to lead the rosary.

It was a very special ascent up the hill to the top where Our Lady’s statue stands. When we reached the summit Fr Brendan stood up for a short while, holding onto the railing that surrounds the statue, but not for long, and was helped back into the chair. No other groups were there. Fr Brendan had Our Lady’s full and undivided attention!

And then the helpers from Cenacolo seemed to melt away and leave Fr Brendan alone with Our Lady, posting a ‘guardian angel’ slightly behind him in case he needed any further help. I found this very moving.

Fifteen minutes later, we started to make our descent, by which time large crowds of pilgrims from Italy and French Martinique were making their way up the hill. We were soon back at the base again where we expressed our appreciation to the Cenacolo boys. Without them Fr Brendan’s dream would not have been possible.

A little over four months later, Fr Brendan was called by our Heavenly Father to his eternal rest.

Fear and insecurity rule the world. In today’s gospel (Mark 4 : 35-41), the disciples are driven to fear by a great windstorm as they cross the Sea of Galilee in a boat with Jesus.

They disturb him sleeping and cry out, “Master, do you not care? We are going down!”

We know the outcome. Jesus rebuked the wind and calmed the storm.

It’s a mystery of life that Jesus seemingly prevents disasters happening for some and not for others.

In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die, their going looked like a disaster, their leaving us, an annihilation. But they are in peace. Wisdom 3 : 2-3

Dear children! Also today I call you to conversion. May your life, little children, be a reflection of God’s goodness and not of hatred and unfaithfulness. Pray, little children, that prayer may become life for you. In this way, in your life you will discover the peace and joy which God gives to those who have an open heart to His love. And you who are far from God’s mercy, convert so that God may not become deaf to your prayers and that it may not be too late for you. Therefore, in this time of grace, convert and put God in the first place in your life. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, August 25, 2007