THE MEDJUGORJE WITNESS

Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him about Adonijah; the King rose to meet her and bowed before her; he then sat down on his throne; a seat was brought for the Mother of the King, and she sat down at his right hand. She said “I have one small request to make you; do not refuse me.” “My Mother,” the King answered “make your request, for I will not refuse you.” 1 Kings 2 : 19-20

This scene of the Assumption of Mary appears on the ceiling of the Carafa Chapel located in Rome’s basilica dedicated to St Mary and St Thomas Aquinas. It was painted early in the 1490’s by the Florentine artist Filippino Lippi.

One special feature in the fresco is the drumming angel. It represents Leonardo da Vinci as a young man. More details here and here.

As Jesus prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightening. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah. (Luke 9 : 29-30)

Sister Elvira passed away today at 3:50am, at the Formation House of the Cenacolo Community in Saluzzo, Italy. She was 86 years old. Her body will be displayed at the Saluzzo Community on Friday, August 4, from 9:00am to midday and from 2:00pm to 6:30pm.

In a message sent today to participants of the Medjugorje International Youth Festival, Pope Francis urged young people to open their hearts to the will of God.

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The full text is published on the Medjugorje parish website at this link.

Dear children! In this time of grace, in which the Most High sends me to you to love you and guide you on the way of conversion, offer your prayers and sacrifices for all those who are far away and have not come to know God’s love. You, little children, be witnesses of love and peace for all peaceless hearts. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Saint Christopher’s name translates from the Greek ‘bearer of Christ’. He is said to have lived in the fourth century, and to have died a martyr’s death; many churches in the east and west are dedicated to him. This most popular saint is venerated as the patron of travellers, transport surfing, epilepsy, and athletics. The old story tells us that he carried a child across a river, before the child revealed himself as Christ. Thirsting for true faith, Christopher met a hermit who instructed him in the Christian religion. Because Christopher felt unable to dedicate himself to a life of fasting and prayer, the hermit suggested that he could serve Christ by helping people to cross a dangerous river. One day a child presented himself to be carried across the river; as the saint bore Simon his shoulders, however, the child’s weight increased, causing Christopher to say, “I do not think the whole world could have been so heavy on my shoulders as you are.” The child replied, “You not only have the world on your shoulders, but He who made it. I am Christ your king, who you are serving by this work.” The child then vanished. The local king tempted Christopher to worship pagan gods, with riches and beautiful women sent to allure him. Unfazed, Christopher converted the women to try religion, and many citizens followed suit. The king then had Christopher beheaded. (Fr Anton Guziel)

• The image of St Christopher was painted by Jan Van Eyck and is part of the Pilgrims panel of the Ghent Altarpiece. More details about the Pilgrims panel at this link.

The Transfiguration is one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. This miracle is unique among others that appear in the canonical gospels, in that the miracle happens to Jesus himself. Thomas Aquinas considered the Transfiguration "the greatest miracle", in that it complemented baptism and showed the perfection of life in Heaven. The Transfiguration is one of the five major milestones in the gospel narrative of the life of Jesus, the others being Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. In 2002, Pope John Paul II introduced the Luminous Mysteries in the rosary, which include the Transfiguration. 

Source: Wikipedia

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mother of Divine Grace.

My last surviving aunt died at 7:00 this morning. She was 102. Her name is Grace.

Yesterday, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, longtime secretary of Pope John Paul II met with Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, Apostolic Visitor of Medjugorje, and Fr Zvonimir Pavičić, parish priest of Medjugorje.

Accompanied by Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, the Cardinal visited the places of prayer in Medjugorje.

When the Cardinal visited Medjugorje in 2021, he said the place was strongly present in the life of John Paul II.

“Medjugorje is a place of great prayer and conversion through prayer, confession and penance. Apparitions are not as important as the fact that it is a place of meeting with the Mother of God and the possibility of asking for mercy through her intercession. It’s unbelievable how many people come here,” emphasised the longtime secretary of the Polish Pope.

Source: Radio Maria, Poland. Image: radio-medjugorje.com

About 300 priests from 33 countries participated in the recent 26th International Retreat for Priests at Medjugorje. Leading the retreat was Fr. Miljenko Šteko (pictured), a member of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who previously served as the Provincial and the President of the Union of Friars Minor of Europe, and also worked pastorally in Medjugorje. Today he is the guardian of the Antonianum International Institute in Rome. Reports and further details at this link.

No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth onto an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved. 

Matthew 9 : 16-17

Walking the steep and rocky ascent up Mt Krizevac is as life itself, a journey never identical. Some pilgrims walk the path to the left, some prefer the right side, some take the middle line while others prefer to criss-cross the bouldered track. But no walk is ever the same or repeated. Each trek is unique, even for those who are carried – and yet all are heading in the same direction to arrive at the same destination, alone or together, in front or behind, each in their own time. We make our own journey but share the same desire – to reach the summit where someone very special is waiting with a welcome to fill every heart with joy. Krizevac is our pilgrimage, our life.

Dear children! My call for you is prayer. May prayer be a joy for you and a wreath which binds you to God. Little children, trials will come and you will not be strong, and sin will reign but, if you are mine, you will win, because your refuge will be the Heart of my Son Jesus. Therefore, little children, return to prayer until prayer becomes life for you in the day and the night. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Medjugorje message, July 25, 2019

There are some places and some people in life that ‘mark’ you forever. Once you have come in contact with them, they revive in you everything that seemed buried in your heart forever.

Then you capture a life full of joy, serenity, and purpose. You understand the reason you are living, where you have come from, and where you are going. You take your life back into your hands with vigour. You rediscover a design of love in your life that trials and difficulties have buried. Then you feel like a new person, and even others are aware that something has changed your life.

The place that has ‘marked’ me and millions of other people is called Medjugorje. It is different from other places because there is a ‘Presence’ there that you do not see but whose effects and benefits you gather. It is a Presence that speaks to our hearts and manifests itself in a personal manner for each of us.

This Presence is Mary, the Mother of God. In Medjugorje we discover that this mother, the Queen of Peace, wants to enter our lives. This is the reason she says to us: “Dear Children, accept me in your lives, because I desire to bestow my love upon you.”

Don Luigi Ferrari

In recent years – 2015 to 2023 – seven of the nine messages relayed by the Medjugorje seer Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti for the month of January have mentioned Satan. It’s an unusual pattern. The previous time Satan was mentioned in a January message was back in 1998.

Linked with Satan’s name in the January message for this year was the word ‘perdition’ (loss of soul, eternal damnation). Perdition has only been mentioned once before in any of the hundreds of messages given to Marija, and that was in October 2012.

In the January 2023 message Our Lady also requested to pray with her, so that what she began in Fatima and Medjugorje may be realised.

It was at Fatima that she taught the young seers what is now known as the Fatima prayer and which makes a clear reference to perdition: “O my Jesus, forgive us; save us from the fires of Hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need.”

Our Lady also asked that this prayer be said after each decade of the Rosary.

Pictured above is a representation of Janus, a god of beginnings and ends in Roman mythology, from which is derived the name given to the month of January. Janus was also associated with gates, doorways, time and transitions. He also presided over the beginning and end of conflict, hence war and peace.

The name of St Januarius, patron saint of Naples, stems from Janus. A vial of blood of the third century martyr is said to liquify at certain times each year, especially on the saint’s feast day, celebrated on September 19.

“Dear God will give us as much as we deserve and as much as we can bear. And that is why we should not be afraid to say who and what we are, that we are believers and that is our tradition and culture. We do not impose anything on anyone, but we have the right and freedom to say what we are, and we have the right and freedom to pray the rosary, to call on dear God for help because he is always with us. I end everything with the words: 'In you, Lord, I trust' and do what you think is best for me, for my family, for us, our people.”

Zlatko Dalić, Croatia’s national football team coach. Photo Getty Images

The Lord took Abram outside and said: “Look up to heaven and count the stars if you can. Such will be your descendants.” Abram put his faith in the Lord, who counted this as making him justified. Genesis 15 : 5-6

God had plans for you and I

Before he made the sea and sky.

Before a star or moon was seen,

We were King and Queen.

Dear children! The Most High permits me to be among you, to pray for you, to be a Mother to you and to be your refuge. Little children, I am calling you; return to God and to prayer and God will bless you abundantly. Thank you for having responded to my call.

If you meet a virgin on the road, invite her into your house.

She bears the Word of God.

St John of the Cross

The Virgin Mary first appeared at Medjugorje late in the afternoon of June 24, 1981, to two teenage girls, Ivanka Ivankovic and Mirjana Dragicevic, walking the road alongside Podbrdo. It was on the feast day of The Nativity of John the Baptist.

“The Ministry of the Interior of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (MUP HNK) warned on Tuesday that several drones have been flying in Medjugorje at the same time recently, which creates an increased risk for the life, health and property of the gathered pilgrims, and that such cases should be reported to the competent authorities.

“Recently, when holding public gatherings of a religious nature in which a large number of citizens – pilgrims participate, the use of drones has been expressed, and in a large number of such cases, for example in Medjugorje, the mass use of drones has been noticed, says the press release of the Ministry of Interior of the HNK .

“It happens, it is added, that in a small area, above the heads of the pilgrims, in addition to the official drone of the Parish of Medjugorje, several other drones fly at the same time, which creates an increased risk for the life, health and property of the gathered pilgrims.

“The police also point out that in a large number of cases, foreigners appear as the owners and users of such drones.”

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Source: Sarajevo Times

How does one prove the authenticity of apparitions? The goal and the duty of the investigation is to ascertain if such occurrences are products of the imagination and subjective experiences of the alleged visionaries. 

It cannot be presumed that visions are objective or ‘natural’; they must be proved. It must also be proved that the content of a vision and its formulation are beyond the grasp and abilities of the visionaries.

The greatest mistake, however, is to expect visionaries (if there are more than one) to relate the message in exactly the same way. Subjectivity and differences in experiencing, receiving, transmitting, and explaining messages are not arguments against authenticity, but speak in its favour.

To report a supernatural experience (such as a vision) ‘objectively’, every individual must use his or her expressions, metaphors, and descriptions. A good example of this is the Four Gospels, in which the mystery of Christ is presented in different ways.

• Adapted from: The Apparitions of Our Lady at Medjugorje, by Fr Svetozar Kraljevic OFM

Then Jesus looked around at them all and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was better. Matthew 12 : 13

God blessed me with two hands, both to receive and to give. Which hand will I stretch out today? Will it be the hand that I have always kept to myself, the hand I refuse to offer to others, the hand that has withered in time. Will today be a sabbath day for me, a time to allow Jesus to heal and make my withered hand better. 

“Little children, tonight I bring to you the good of my Son who gave his life to save you. That is why, little children, rejoice and extend your hands to Jesus who is only good.”

part Medjugorje message, December 25, 1997

“Dear children! Today I call you to prayer. I am with you and I love you all. I am your Mother and I wish that your hearts be similar to my heart. Little children, without prayer you cannot live and say that you are mine. Prayer is joy. Prayer is what the human heart desires. Therefore, get closer, little children, to my Immaculate Heart and you will discover God. Thank you for having responded to my call.” 

Medjugorje message, November 25, 1994

It was God who reconciled himself to us through Christ and gave us the work of handing on this reconciliation. In other words, God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, not holding men’s faults against them, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. So we are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God.

2 Corinthians 5 : 18-20

“With complete trust, open your hearts to my Son, and in them He will inscribe the summary of His words-which is love. Live in an unbreakable connection with the Most Sacred Heart of my Son.”

part Medjugorje message, September 2, 2019

“When I was young I was told about a small boy who went into the larder and seeing a large pile of apples wanted to take one. He knew he shouldn’t without asking, but everyone was out, and as there were so many apples nobody would know if there was one short. 

“That story ate into my soul because it was pointed out to me that although nobody would know, one person would and that was God. So for years after I thought of God as someone watching me all the time to see if I was getting it right, and catching me out if I got it wrong. 

“It took me forty years to recover from that story! Years later I discovered God was the sort of person who would nudge me and say ‘take two’!”

Cardinal Basil Hume (1923-1999)

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Currently the most visited page on this website is Jim Brown’s testimony. Having endured a life of alcoholism Jim was brought to Medjugorje under protest – and experienced something that was to change his life forever. You can read his witness at this link.

One day I met a man out walking. We got talking. He told me he was searching for ways to utilise his talents to serve God. He also explained how he came to make a commitment to God and started to attend church after he saw an advertising board on a street named Church Street. The slogan on the poster read: “Just do it.” And he did. He joined a church community that weekend.

We wonder at times how best we can serve God and what exactly he wants us to do in life with our talents. The advice Paul took on board opened a new chapter in his life. Just do it. It reminded me of the advice the Mother of Jesus gave to the servants at the Cana Wedding: “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2 : 5

I’ve posted a new collection of Medjugorje images on my photo galleries page under the banner: “Keep Jesus close at hand”. Here’s the link.

All flesh is grass and its beauty like the wild flower’s. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on them (The grass is without doubt the people.) 

Isaiah 40 : 6-7

“Little children, don't forget that your life is fleeting like a spring flower which today is wondrously beautiful but tomorrow has vanished.” 

(part Medjugorje message, March 25, 1988)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation we have received from God ourselves. 2 Corinthians 1 : 3–4

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” John 6:51

Proclaim before all men the deeds of God as they deserve, and never tire of giving him thanks. It is right to keep the secret of a king, yet right to reveal and publish the works of God. Thank him worthily. (Tobit 12 : 7)

• The image is detail from Tobias and the Angel Raphael, by Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci, The National Gallery, London.

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• Andrea del Verrocchio portrayed himself as the Archangel Raphael, while a young Leonardo da Vinci was the model for Tobias.

Sometime around 560, the Irish abbot and missionary Saint Columba became involved in a quarrel with Saint Finnian of Movilla Abbey over a psalter. Columba copied the manuscript at the scriptorium under Saint Finnian, intending to keep the copy. Saint Finnian disputed his right to keep the copy. Thus, this dispute was about the ownership of the copy (whether it belonged to Saint Columba because he copied it or whether it belonged to Saint Finnian because he owned the original). King Diarmait mac Cerbaill gave the judgement, “To every cow belongs her calf, therefore to every book belongs its copy.” This was the first known case of copyright infringement to be tested by law.

Source: Wikipedia

Dear children! Today I wish to call you to pray daily for souls in purgatory. For every soul prayer and grace is necessary to reach God and the love of God. By doing this, dear children, you obtain new intercessors who will help you in life to realise that all the earthly things are not important for you, that only Heaven is that for which it is necessary to strive. Therefore, dear children, pray without ceasing that you may be able to help yourselves and the others to whom your prayers will bring joy. Thank you for having responded to my call. (Medjugorje message, November 6, 1986)

Be aware, little children, that life is short and eternal life waits for you according to your merit. Therefore, pray, pray, pray to be worthy instruments in God’s hands. Thank you for having responded to my call. (part Medjugorje message, May 25, 2019)

But if there are gifts of prophecy, the time will come when they must fail; or the gift of languages, it will not continue for ever; and knowledge – for this, too, the time will come when it must fail. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophesying is imperfect; but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will disappear. When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and think like a child, and argue like a child, but now I am a man, all childish ways are put behind me. Now we are seeing a dim reflection in a mirror, but then we shall be seeing face to face. The knowledge I have now is imperfect, but then I shall know as fully as I am known. In short, there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 : 8-13

Pope Francis said today that apparitions of the Virgin Mary are “not always real”.

“There are images of the Madonna that are real, but the Madonna has never attracted (attention) to herself. I like to see her with her finger pointing up to Jesus. When Marian devotion is too centred on itself, it is not good”.

Source: The Guardian

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16 : 12-15

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• Holy Trinity fresco (1426-28) by Masaccio, in the Church of Santa Maria Novella, Florence.

Dear children, these are special times and, therefore, I am with you to love and protect you; to protect your hearts from Satan and to bring you all closer to the heart of my Son, Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.

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part Medjugorje message, June 25, 1993

Mary set out at that time as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, “Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1 : 39-45)

Here’s a group of UK pilgrims and group leaders I travelled with to Medjugorje many years ago. Five of them are now in Heaven, and I’m still occasionally in touch with four others. Happy days.

Sandro Botticelli’s famous painting titled the Birth of Venus is not all that it appears to be on the surface. While the central figure is portrayed as Venus it also represents the figure of the New Eve, Mater Ecclesiae, Mother Church. More information at this link.

Dear children! Also today I am calling all of you to prayer. You cannot live without prayer, because prayer is a chain which brings you closer to God. Therefore, little children, in humility of heart return to God and to his commandments so that with all of your heart you are able to say: as it is in Heaven so may it be on earth. You, little children, are free to in freedom decide for God or against him. See where Satan wants to pull you into sin and slavery. Therefore, little children, return to my heart so that I can lead you to my Son Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Medjugorje message, January 25, 2016

Finally managed to update the page for the Medjugorje messages of Our Lady given to Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti for the year so far. Go to this link.

Dear children! The Most High has permitted me to call you anew to conversion. Little children, open your hearts to the grace to which you are all called. Be witnesses of peace and love in this peaceless world. Your life here on earth is passing. Pray that through prayer you may yearn for Heaven and the things of Heaven and your hearts will see everything differently. You are not alone; I am with you and intercede before my Son Jesus for you. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, May 25, 2017