USA and Latinoamerica
What happened in Medjugorje?
An exceptional witness tells us about it. Jozo Zovko, a Franciscan religious, rector of the parish of St. James in Medjugorje, when extraordinary events began.
Jozo Zovko, a Franciscan friar and rector of St. James Parish in Medjugorje, when extraordinary events began. It was half past five in the afternoon on the feast of St. John the Baptist. A group of boys from my parish were walking along the mountain talking and playing as all children do. Suddenly they saw the mountain full of light. They thought it was a fire. When they got closer they saw that there was no fire, but the mountain was full of light. And at that moment, out of the light the Blessed Virgin came out of the light.
The Lady, with the addition of her hands, invited them to come closer. But the children, filled with fear, ran away. Once in their homes, they explained what had happened.
(We interrupt the story to give the names of the six children: Ivanka, 15 years old; Mirjana, 16 years old;
Vicka, 17; Marija, 16; Ivan, 16; and Jakob, 9).
Their parents were sad and worried. They spent the night arguing. How was it possible that their own children took holy things so lightly? It seemed to them that they were blaspheming the religious.
But the boys did not share that opinion and repeated:
"We say what we have seen. We also love and venerate Our Lady."
Vicka's grandmother warned her granddaughter that Satan can also appear and mislead.
"How can it be Satan? -Satan is ugly and unpleasant. We
We have seen a very beautiful Lady.
The next day, the curious wanted to accompany the visionaries. On the mountain, the phenomenon of the previous day was repeated.
of the previous day was repeated on the mountain. When the Lady came out of that light, the boys fell to their knees on the ground.
The Lady remained before them.
Vicka poured holy water on her and said, "If you are Satan, go away; if you are the Lady, stay.
The Lady smiled and said, "Do not be afraid.
Vicka asked, "Who are you?"
Our Lady replied, "I am the Queen of Peace."
Then the boys began to pray.
They prayed what they knew, what it is customary to pray in the houses, and because it had been recommended to Vicka by her grandmother: the Creed, and the seven Our Fathers, Hail Mary and Glory Be in honor of the seven joys of Our Lady. Our Lady's seven joys.
After seven days the Lady asked them to pray the rosary. When the boys said the Lady's name: "We have seen Our Lady and she has told us her name: "I am the Queen of Peace", their parents did not believe it. Did not believe it. Nobody believed them. Neither did I. It was so hard!
It was so difficult! We suffered so much! We had so many difficulties, so many questions! Could it be true?
Who could testify to us, who could confirm us? How could we believe if it was not so certain?
Who could help us? We decided to pray to receive the grace of an answer.
Thousands and thousands of pilgrims and curious people came to Medjugorje to see the children and the prodigious signs in the sun, in the light, on the cross of Krisevac. What happened? All these signs helped people to be ready to accept the messages.
What signs were there in the beginning? At the top of the mountain there is a concrete cross. It was erected by the parish in 1933, in commemoration of the death of Christ, on the Anniversary of the Redemption. Sometimes you could not see the cross, but you could see the Lady and a great light. Everyone was to approach the Cross raised on the mountain. It would truly become, as it was on Calvary, a great sign that would attract millions. Yes... Millions have passed before this cross on the top of the mountain and have received many graces.
Also the communists, many times, believed that the mountain was burning and went with the firemen to put out the fire. But they did not find the material fire. From a distance it seemed that the whole mountain was burning.
The mountain and the valley were under the sign that they mistook for fire.
