IN GOD’S HANDS. A painting by Ljubo Jovanović (Šurmanci, Medjugorje). Used here with the artist’s personal permission.
St. John Paul II on Medjugorje
From the internet site officially sponsored by the Franciscan priests, one can read some of the documented remarks made by this saintly Pope.
To Bishop Pavol Hnilica (1984): “Medjugorje is the continuation of Fatima.”
To Bishop Maurillo Kreiger of Brazil (1988): “Medjugorje, Medjugorje; it is the spiritual heart of the world.”
To a group of doctors in Italy (1989): “Yes, today the world has lost its sense of the supernatural. In Medjugorje, many seek and rediscover it in prayer, fasting and confession.”
To Archbishop Angelo Kim, President of the Korean Bishops’ Conference, in reply to his compliment to the Pope, “Father, thanks to you, Poland was able to liberate itself from Communism” (1990): “No, this is not my merit. This is the work of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as she had predicted in Fatima and in Medjugorje.”
To Marek and Zofia Skwarnicki (Poland, 1992): “I thank Zofia for everything concerning Medjugorje. I, too, go there every day as a pilgrim in my prayers: I unite in my prayers with all those who pray there or receive a calling for prayer from there. Today we have understood this call better. I rejoice that our time is not lacking people of prayer and apostles.”
To Bishop Robert Cavallero of Chiavari, in answer to his question to the Holy Father whether he believed in Medjugorje (1997): “I believe… I believe… I believe.”
Background
In the third year of St. John Paul II’s term of office, on the anniversary of Our Lady’s apparition in Fatima, May 13th, a professional assassin gunned down His Holiness at close range. Miraculously, he survived the potentially fatal wound. Forty two days later, Mother Mary began appearing in Medjugorje to Ivanka Ivanković and Mirjana Dragičević. It was June 24th, 1981 – Feast day of St. John the Baptist, the Precursor.
That same evening, when the Blessed Virgin came again, Vicka Ivanković and Ivan Dragičević had tagged along. The following day, on Our Lady’s next apparition, Marija Pavlović and Jakov Čolo were also present. This second afternoon all six stayed to watch, listen and pray. At that time, Jakov was 10 years old while the others were just past their mid-teens.
Since then, Our Lady has been conveying messages to them on a regular basis. This manual contains excerpts of the more important ones. The majority is from March 1984 to the present. Except for about a dozen of them, many of the early messages had not been formally recorded or translated. Should they become authenticated, they will be included in future editions of this book.
The daily apparitions spanned three pontificates. Pope John Paul II had spoken privately to friends of his belief in the phenomenon; Pope Benedict XVI established an official Commission to investigate the matter; and in 2014, it was Pope Francis who received the report of the Commission and moved forward from there.
Critics
Opponents of Medjugorje like to justify their stance by arguing that there is no need for heavenly visitations, that Revelation was completed on the death of the last Apostle, that a Christian has enough guidance through Sacred Scripture and the Church. That may be so, but we beg them to open their eyes and look around. How many people do they see reading Sacred Scripture? How many heed what is written in them? How many are faithful to all the tenets of the Church? Our Lady never said she came to announce a new set of revelations; she is here precisely to exhort her children to live what the Bible and the Catholic Church teach!
“Look around you, dear children, and you will see how greatly sin has dominated the world,” she stated on September 13th, 1984. Many of her children give in readily to sin; they ignore God; they live like pagans. Can a loving Mother stand by and do nothing?
The Messages
Mother Mary did not come primarily to tell us about future events. She came mostly to pass on guidelines for living a solid spiritual life – guidelines that are pertinent in every age no matter on what date they were initially given. She appeals especially for conversion, prayer, strong faith, peace, penance and fasting.
“I have remained with you this long to help you in your trials” (02/07/1985), she explained. Looking back at the tribulations that have afflicted the Church, the world, families, and individuals over the decades after this providential promise of assistance was made, one begins to comprehend its implications and the reason why it is so important to heed Our Lady.
The State of the Church during the Apparitions
Throughout her history, the Church has periodically experienced terrible trials – trials caused by external persecutions and/or the sins of her own members. But she has always bounced back. Just as Jesus agonized in the Garden of Gethsemani, just as he was betrayed by one of his Twelve, maligned by his enemies, scourged, crowned with thorns, spat upon, made to carry a heavy cross and crucified, so will the Church go through the same at different stages of her journey. But similarly, she will rise again! Jesus said, “And the gates of Hell shall never prevail against her” (see Mt 16:18).
Mother Mary stood by her suffering Son, clinging tenaciously to his plan of redemption. She never doubted the efficacy of his teachings, or diluted them. Not once was she discouraged, knowing that he would be brought back to life on the third day. She says to us from Medjugorje, “I rejoice with you, and in this time of grace I call you to spiritual renewal” (05/25/2000).
Rejoice? This is a time of grace?
Yes! Emphatically yes! And we are already witnessing the purification of the Church, of her leaders, of the laity, of the world.
Courage! Fear not. Be strong. In the end, Mary’s Immaculate Heart will triumph, and her sons and daughters will come to their senses. They will get up and go to their Father’s house. They will live again in holiness and peace.
The prophet Haggai’s remarks about the Temple can be adapted to portray the present and future condition of the Church. The treasures that he speaks about, and the silver and the gold, may be thought of as symbols for God’s precious children whom he desires to return to him from every nation.
“Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerub’babel, says the LORD; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehoz’adak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit abides among you; fear not. For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts.” (Haggai 2:3-9, Revised Standard Version Bible).
Our Lady said, “Read Sacred Scripture, live it, and pray to understand the signs of the time. This is a special time” (08/25/1993).
Conversion
In the Bible, Jonah was asked to announce to the people of Nineveh that in forty days the city would be destroyed. The inhabitants repented, and were spared. Whatever divine chastisements our present perverse generation justly deserves can also be reduced or eliminated, if we convert.
“I invite you to conversion. This is the most important message that I have given you here,” Our Lady asserted on February 25th, 1996.
“Little children, you live in a time in which God gives great graces but you do not know how to make good use of them. You are concerned about everything else, but least for the soul and the spiritual life. Awaken from the tired sleep of your soul and say ‘Yes’ to God with all your strength. Decide for conversion and holiness. I am with you, little children, and I call you to perfection of your soul and of everything you do”(03/25/2001).
“You cannot be converted, little children, if you do not abandon sins and do not decide for love towards God and neighbour” (01/25/2002).
“Work more on your conversion because you are far away, little children” (03/25/2012).
Live Your Mother’s Messages
One mistake a person can make is to ignore Our Lady’s injunctions. Another is to think that her invitation to conversion is meant for somebody else. “You speak much, little children, but little do you work on your own conversion” (09/25/1998).
“There are many who think they are doing a lot by talking about the messages but do not live them” (05/25/1991).
“Therefore, convert and start to live my messages, not with your words but with your life” (09/25/1998). ‘With your life‘ – that is, with the way you live, the way you behave, the way you think, speak, and make decisions, the way you treat the person whom you despise as being below your status in society, the way you relate to God and his commandments.
“Dear children, if you live the messages, you are living the seeds of holiness” (10/10/1985). Live Mother Mary’s messages and you will know how true this statement is; you will receive direction and help to be separated further from sin and profanity, you will become more and more united to God, you will carry out your Christian vocation with greater understanding.
The Blessed Mother habitually closes her messages with the sentence: “Thank you for having responded to my call.” This “Thank you” has the same force as the ones seen in public places, like, “Thank you for not smoking”, which signifies: “Do not smoke!” Besides expressing her gratitude, Our Lady is requesting, “Respond to my call! It is vital that you do.”
In Jesus we see the perfect example of one who followed his Mother’s bidding, with superlative fruitfulness. He lived in obedience to her for thirty years at Nazareth, and advanced in wisdom, in stature, and in favour before God and his people. (See Luke 2:51-52.)
Daily Meditation
We invite you, fellow children of God, after you have gone through this material once, to consider adopting it as part of your meditative reading, concentrating on one message each day, or (at most) a topic per day. Mother Mary beckons, “Little children, read every day the messages I have given you and transform them into life” (12/25/1989). Given time, she will show you relevance.
The idea is not to finish everything within a certain length of time. The object is to let the words sink in and become assimilated into your thoughts and behaviour.
A way to benefit from Our Lady’s teachings is to apply them to your personal situation. “I call you, little children, to look deeply into your heart” (01/25/2002).
Please underline sentences that have special significance for you. There will be many!
God First
“In your work and in your everyday life, put God in the first place” (12/25/1987), the Blessed Virgin tells us. This is a key element and a link running through all of her instructions. It necessitates giving to God our highest regard, and trusting him explicitly. It requires our profound belief in his love for us and for all whom we hold dear, and learning to count on that love with complete abandonment and in the absence of the slightest trace of doubt. This is how we can pray with such confidence that our whole outlook on life is transformed. This is how we can talk to God in joy and peace, fully conscious of his affectionate presence. This is how we can pray with the heart, in a reverential and quiet spirit.
“Dear children, I call each one of you to start living in God’s love” (05/25/1987).
“Children, you seek peace and pray in different ways, but you have not yet given your hearts to God for him to fill them with his love. Therefore I am with you to teach you and to bring you closer to the love of God” (05/25/1999).
“I am calling you to total surrender to God” (05/25/1988). Among other things she is telling us not to be afraid, but to place in God’s hands ourselves and everything that is in our hearts. “God is your greatest friend” (02/25/1992). “When true friendship with God is realized no storm can destroy it” (06/25/1997). “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” (08/25/2007).
Once we understand and adopt these things, we enter into an astonishingly elevated dimension of spiritual awareness.
Children
When Mother Mary begins her messages by addressing us as “Dear children” she is reminding us that we are God’s sons and daughters – and hers; we are cherished by God – and by her; we are to think of ourselves and our loved ones in that light, and live accordingly.
She also calls us “Little children.” In this, she echoes Jesus’ words: “Unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 18:3, New Jerusalem Bible). With Jesus, she is urging us to live with child-like trust.
“At that time Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do'” (Mt 11:25-26, New Jerusalem Bible).
Peace
Right from the second day of her apparitions, Our Lady put out the call for peace. “Peace, peace, peace; only peace” (06/26/1981), she announced.
“I want each one of you to experience in your heart that peace which God is giving” (06/25/1987).
“Therefore, pray that the Lord of peace may protect you with his mantle and that he may help you to understand the greatness and the importance of peace in your hearts” (12/25/1990).
“Today I invite all of you who have heard my message of peace to realize it in your life with seriousness and love” (05/25/1991). ‘To realize’ is a verb used many times by Our Lady, and it means ‘to make real, to flesh out, to bring into concrete and actual existence.’
“Decide for holiness, little children, and think of heaven. Only in this way, will you have peace in your heart which no one will be able to destroy” (05/25/2006).
And with peace in yourself, let it go forth to your neighbours and beyond. “Dear children, by your own peace I am calling you to help others to see and begin to seek peace” (09/25/1986).
“Little children, you are chosen to witness peace and joy. If there is no peace, pray and you will receive it. Through you and your prayer, little children, peace will begin to flow through the world. That is why, little children, pray, pray, pray, because prayer works miracles in human hearts and in the world” (10/25/2001).
Prayer
The request that Mother Mary makes most often is for her sons and daughters to pray. She says, “Let your life become a prayer completely” (11/25/1992).
Conversely, let your prayer become a life completely – a life of faith in God’s infinite love, fidelity and companionship. “Let prayer be your life. Dear children, dedicate your time only to Jesus and he will give you everything that you seek” (09/25/1987).
May your prayer be like Our Lady’s: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Lk 1:46-47, New Jerusalem Bible). May you come to understand the meaning behind this prayer as you advance in holiness over the years – as you become increasingly aware of God’s immense love for you and his glorious plans throughout your life.
“In prayer you will discover the greatest joy and the way out of every situation that has no escape” (03/28/1985).
“Dear children, Satan is very strong. And therefore I request your prayers – that you offer them for those who are under his influence so that they be saved… If you pray Satan cannot injure you, not even a little bit, because you are God’s children and God watches over you. Pray, and let the rosary be always in your hands as a sign to Satan that you belong to me” (02/25/1988).
“Especially, I call you to pray for all those who are far from God, that they would be converted” (08/25/1989).
“Pray in order to understand that all of you, by your life and your example, ought to collaborate in the work of salvation” (05/25/1996).
“I wish, dear children, that during this time you find a corner for personal prayer. I want to lead you towards prayer with the heart. Only in this way will you understand that your life is empty without prayer. You will discover the meaning of your life when you discover God in prayer” (07/25/1997).
“That is why, little children, in the silence of the heart, remain with Jesus so that he may change and transform you with his love” (07/25/1998).
“Pray in a special way for those who do not know God’s love; and witness with your life so that they can also come to know God and his immeasurable love” (02/25/2000).
“Little children, the one who prays is not afraid of the future, and the one who fasts is not afraid of evil” (01/25/2001).
“Little children, believe that miracles can be performed by simple prayer. Through your prayer you open your heart to God, and he works miracles in your life. By looking at the fruits, your heart is filled with joy and gratitude to God for everything he does in your life – and through you in others also. Pray and believe, little children. God gives you graces and you do not see them. Pray and you will see them” (10/25/2002).
“As I have already been saying, and now say again to you, little children, by prayer and fasting alone even wars can be stopped” (02/25/2003).
“Also today, I call you to fill your day with short and ardent prayers. When you pray, your heart is open and God loves you with a special love and gives you special graces” (07/25/2005).
Hope
“Pray with the heart, little children, and do not lose hope – because God loves his creatures” (03/25/2003).
“Also today I am with you, and I am looking at you and blessing you; and I do not lose hope that this world will change for the good, and that peace will reign in the hearts of people. Joy will begin to reign in the world because you have opened yourselves to my call and to God’s love. The Holy Spirit is changing a multitude of those who have said ‘Yes'” (01/25/2011).
Notes
1. For more information, please visit http://www.medjugorje.hr. The site is sanctioned by the Franciscan Fathers who are in charge of the parish.
2. Looking for supplementary topics and key words? Please search the internet under “Medjugorje Messages Concordance.”
3. The quotations in OUR LADY SPEAKS FROM MEDJUGORJE are translated from the Croatian language. Questions concerning the interpretation of any text must be resolved by consulting the original documents.
4. The subject titles are in alphabetical order, but, because the topics are not mutually exclusive, duplication and overlapping do exist here and there.
5. The numbers in brackets at the end of each citation denote the sequence (month/day/year) – the date on which the message was received.
6. The majority of the messages recorded in this book were given through Marija every week or month. For those that were not, the date on which a message was received is followed by the name of the visionary through whom the message was transmitted.
7. When Mother Mary stops speaking to the world every 25th day of each month via Marija, no more new quotations will be added to this book. Our Lady’s Annual Messages and Special Messages to each visionary will continue to be reported on www.medjugorjeca.org. Just scroll down the left menu on the Home page of the site to ‘Our Lady’s Messages,’ and click on ‘Our Lady Speaks.’
DO WHATEVER JESUS TELLS YOU!
The history of the book mentioned in the Preface goes back to Christmas, 1958. I had barely turned 20 when two questions came to mind: “Wouldn’t it be nice if someone should write a top-notch spiritual book that is short enough for people to read meditatively, and finish?” and “Wouldn’t it be important if somebody should write a book that quoted no one else but Jesus alone?” I paid no attention to either proposition, and forgot all about them. But, lo and behold, four years later, amidst mysterious circumstances, I committed my life to writing just such a book.
After many years, the first attempt was printed in 1984. Not knowing what to do with the 2,500 copies stored in the basement of my house, I travelled to Medjugorje seeking Our Lady’s guidance. Since then, the book has been revised countless times.
Below are four samples from the latest edition. The scriptural texts are from the New Jerusalem Bible.
Our Lady said, “Therefore, little children, pray and read Sacred Scripture so that through Sacred Scripture you may discover the message for you in my coming here” (06/25/1991).
(1) Jesus promised, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20) Keep that forever in your mind. Know without a doubt that Jesus is constantly present in you. He is present not only when you call upon him but even when you have forgotten him. Whether you feel neglected or restless, downcast or weary, he has not left you. At the times when you have problems, or when you doubt your own adequacy and worth, when you experience a sense of meaninglessness, when you feel unimportant and small, he remains near.
Moreover, “I am with you” also means “I am not against you! I am for you. Everything that I have ever done on earth has been for your sake. I created the world for you. I came to live, suffered, died, rose from the dead — all for you. Everything I have ever taught is for your good. Every word I have spoken is to bring you understanding and joy. Every commandment I have given is for your well-being.
“I am with you! I am by your side! I am on your side!”
(2) And do not be anxious. Pray expectantly. Jesus did not say, “Ask, and perhaps, if you deserve it, you might receive. Search, and if you’re lucky, you might find. Knock, and if I feel like it, I might open the door.” No.
He said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened. Is there anyone among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? If you, then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?” (Mt 7:7-11)
(3) Jesus loves you. Do you know how much? Do you know how much the Father loves Jesus? There is no love stronger than that which God the Father has for his Son. And yet that is exactly how much Jesus loves you! For he says: “I have loved you just as the Father has loved me.” (Jn 15:9) In the same way. Just as profoundly. Just as tenderly. Just as limitlessly. Remain in his love. “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” (Jn 15:10)
(4) Jesus said to him, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.” (Mt 22:37-38)
How does Our Lord want us to love him? The answer is found in the Gospel according to John, Chapter 14, verses 15, 21, and 23. Jesus declares:
“If you love me you will keep my commandments… Whoever holds to my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me… Anyone who loves me will keep my word.”
Live Jesus’ commandments; live his words
Mother Mary says: “Dear children, I cannot help you if you do not live God’s commandments.” (10/25/1993)
“My children, stop for a moment and look in to your hearts. Is my Son – your God – truly in the first place? Are his commandments truly the measure of your life?” (12/02/2007, Mirjana)
On Christmas Day, 2012. Our Lady came with little Jesus in her arms and she did not give a message, but little Jesus began to speak and said: “I am your peace, live my commandments.” (12/25/2012)
“Dear children, as a mother, I am joyful to be among you because I desire to speak anew about the words of my Son and of his love. I hope that you will accept me with the heart, because the words of my Son and his love are the only light and hope in the darkness of today. This is the only truth; and you who will accept and live it will have pure and humble hearts. My Son loves those who are pure and humble. Pure and humble hearts bring to life the words of my Son; they live them, they spread them, and they make it possible for everyone to hear them. The words of my Son bring back life to those who listen to them. The words of my Son bring back love and hope. Therefore, my beloved apostles, my children, live the words of my Son. Love each other as he loved you. Love each other in his name, in memory of him. The Church is advancing and growing because of those who listen to the words of my Son, because of those who love, because of those who suffer and endure in silence and in the hope of final redemption. Therefore, my beloved children, may the words of my Son and his love be the first and the last thought of your day. Thank you.” (01/02/2016, Mirjana)