CNS publishes positive article on Medjugorje

Catholic News Service (CNS) has published a very positive article about Medjugorje today.

PILGRIMS FLOCK TO MEDJUGORJE WHILE
VATICAN STUDIES ALLEGED APPARITIONS
 
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

MEDJUGORJE, Bosnia-Herzegovina (CNS) – A Vatican-appointed commission is studying the alleged Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, but pilgrims keep arriving in the small town.

As the 30th anniversary of the alleged apparitions approaches, the town is experiencing a building boom with new hostels, restaurants and shops that cater to pilgrims.

The 11 Franciscan friars assigned to the town's convent and its sole parish – St James – are assisted by visiting priests in ministering to the pilgrims and the town's 3,500 residents, who pack the church even in the winter when pilgrim buses are few and far between. A few hotels and dozens and dozens of family-run hostels offer more than 10,000 beds for pilgrims.

Individuals and members of organized groups climb the craggy Apparition Hill where six village children said they first saw Mary in June 1981. The pilgrims pray the rosary as they trudge up the hill, careful not to twist their ankles on the slices of rock jutting out of the hillside.

Most of the Medjugorje "seers" have said the apparitions have continued every day for years. Three say they still have visions each day, while the other three see Mary only once a year now. All six are now married and have children.

Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez, Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo and Jakov Colo still live year round in Medjugorje or a nearby village; each of them was contacted in late February but declined to be interviewed.

On the second of each month, Dragicevic-Soldo says Mary shares with her a prayer for unbelievers and on the 25th of each month, Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti, who now lives with her husband and children in northern Italy, says she receives a public message from Mary.

For years the local bishop, Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno, has said he believes nothing supernatural is happening in Medjugorje. In an e-mail to Catholic News Service in late February, he said he would no longer comment about what is happening in Medjugorje out of respect for the Vatican commission.

While the Vatican has said dioceses should not organize official pilgrimages to Medjugorje, it has said Catholics are free to visit the town and pray there, and that the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno and the Franciscans should organize pastoral care for them.

Franciscan Father Svetozar Kraljevic, who runs pilgrim-funded social projects on the edge of town, said, "We are all a commission" -- the local Franciscans, the townspeople and the pilgrims, who by their presence continue to study the claims about Mary's appearance in Medjugorje and to judge the authenticity of the messages the young people say she gives them.

At least 1.5 million pilgrims came in the past year and their judgment is clear, he said, although the formal commission members "have been given a special responsibility" for discernment.

Offering an introductory session Feb. 25 for a pilgrim group from St. Louis, Franciscan Father Danko Perutina told them, "Everything Our Lady has been talking about here is already in our tradition -- it's nothing new -- pray, read the Bible, recite the rosary, go to Holy Mass, go to confession."

Father Perutina told the St. Louis group that official church bodies, particularly bishops' conferences, have been investigating the Medjugorje visionaries' claims for years and whatever the Vatican commission decides, "we must accept."

"There weren't as many investigations of Lourdes and Fatima," the Marian apparitions in France and Portugal respectively, "but everything must be tried by fire. Only the good things will remain," he said.

Father Perutina told the pilgrims, "Apparitions are one expression of God's acting in the world and they are helping people."

The Franciscan friar is collecting stories of priests and nuns from around the world who say their vocations are connected to Medjugorje and he said he already has more than 500 such testimonies; Father Rodger Fleming, one of the priests leading the St. Louis group, said his is one of them.

The associate pastor of St. Clement of Rome parish in St. Louis said he was making his 20th visit to Medjugorje, which he first visited with his parents and siblings.

In late February, his group was the only organized English-speaking pilgrimage in Medjugorje; there were several Italian groups, but things were pretty quiet in the little town.

Wandering around the church grounds Feb. 26 were four men in their 30s carrying plastic souvenir bags. The four friends work in Switzerland, but two are Armenian Orthodox from Turkey, one is Italian and one is Croatian.

Jakob, a 37-year-old Armenian, said, "Whether the Vatican says it's true or not really doesn't matter. What counts is what you believe inside, and I believe people need this."

The Italian, who said he has changed his name to Omar, said he agreed to join his friends on the roadtrip to Medjugorje "because I believe. It attracts me. You don't have to have more of a reason than that."

Let in rain...

Heavenly graces pour down on Medjugorje...
(best listened to with headphones. 720p HD view available)

Medjugorje February message to Marija

 Dear children! Nature is awakening and on the trees the first buds are seen which will bring most beautiful flowers and fruit. I desire that you also, little children, work on your conversion and that you be those who witness with their life, so that your example may be a sign and an incentive for conversion to others. I am with you and before my Son Jesus I intercede for your conversion. Thank you for having responded to my call.  
Medjugorje message, February 25, 2011

• Fr Neil Buchlein reflection

Church overflow at Tralee

Vicka, her eye’s ever beaming, during Our Lady’s apparition at Tralee

Thousands of Irish faithful from all over Kerry flocked to Our Lady and St Brendan’s Church in Tralee on Tuesday for an afternoon of prayer with Medjugorje visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic.

The world-famous visionary drew a massive crowd to the Tralee event, following her appearance on the Late Late Show last Friday.

Traffic was backed up around the area all afternoon as people arrived from all over the county, and from as far away as Donegal.

Every seat was filled in the church during the service, while hundreds more gathered outside the town centre location.

According to Fr Patsy Lynch of St Brendan’s Parish, the church was packed for hours before the visionary arrived.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like it,” he said.

LISTEN LIVE TO VICKA ON RADIO KERRY

• You can listen live to an interview with Vicka on Radio Kerry’s Horizon programme aired this Sunday (February 27), between 9.00 and 10.00m (gmt)

THE ROSE OF TRALEE

The pale moon was rising above the green mountain
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea
When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain
That stands in beautiful vale of Tralee.
She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer
Yet, 'twas not her beauty alone that won me
Oh no! 'Twas the the truth in her eye ever beaming
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.
The cool shades of evening their mantle were spreading
And Mary all smiling was listening to me
The moon through the valley her pale rays was shedding
When I won the heart of the Rose of Tralee.
Though lovely and fair as the rose of the summer
Yet, 'twas not her beauty alone that won me
Oh no! 'Twas the the truth in her eye ever beaming
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

• kerryseye.com

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Sorrowful Mysteries, Apparition Hill, Medjugorje.
(best listened to with head-phones)

Medjugorje Homily

The late Fr Brendan O’Malley speaking to Medjugorje pilgrims at St Anthony’s Church, Humac.

Medjugorje visionary Vicka on the Late Late Show

This is the segment of last night’s Late Late Show shown on Irish television (RTE1) with Medjugorje visionary Vicka Ivankovic as a guest of host Ryan Tubridy. The translator is Manuella Spinelli.

• Today’s first reading begins:
Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. It was for faith that our ancestors were commended. Hebrews 11 : 1-7

Mirjana’s apparition in Italy

Vicka TV3 news report

This is the short news clip shown on Irish television (RT3) yesterday. It features Vicka receiving Our Lady’s apparition at 4.40pm

Vicka’s appearance on Irish TV

Interview (if you can call it that) has ended. Vicka was in total control and gave excellent witness to the apparitions in the short time given to her.

When the host Ryan Tudbriddy politely attempted to interrupt her witness with a question, Vicka insisted that she wanted to complete her testimony before answering questions, which she did.

Towards the end the host asked her, “What do you say to people who dont believe?” Vicka replied, “I haven’t come here to force people to believe but just to witness. God gave us freedom. We are all free to choose.”

Manuella Spinelli, the Italian translator who sat by Vicka, was excellent throughout while Vicka faced and smiled at the studio audience most of the time.

• Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. Hebrews 11 : 1-7

Italian translator to assist Vicka on tv show

Vicka’s interpreter for her guest appearance on tonight’s tv show (in an hour’s time) will be Italian Manuela Spinelli, the woman who interprets for Ireland’s national soccer team coach, Giovanni Trapattoni.

Spinelli, who studied languages at University College Dublin (UCD) is described as having an easy smile, a quick sense of humour and a sharp brain, and is somewhat of a celebrity in her own right with the Irish media

• photograph by Andy Benitez

“Pain is a gift from God” says Vicka

Vicka greets some of the audience during yesterday’s appearance in Dublin

The Medjugorje seer Vicka Ivankovic yesterday made the first of several public appearances scheduled for her Irish visit when she gave testimony to Our Lady’s messages before a crowd of over 2,300 at the RDS.

While in Dublin she also received Our Lady’s apparition at 4.40pm.

“When I kneel down you will know that Mary is really among us,” Vicka told the attendees before clasping her hands in prayer, rocking back and dropping heavily to her knees.

As the time drew near for Our Lady’s apparition Vicka took to the podium, telling the crowd that their pain was a gift from God.

“We need to pray and thank God for this gift, for this pain, for this sorrow and pray to God for the strength to carry on with this gift,” she said.

• Vicka is to appear as a guest on Irish tv’s Late Late Show tonight.

• photo by Alan Betson

UPDATES:

• Italian translator to assist Vicka on show
• Vicka’s appearance on Irish TV
• Vicka... Ireland’s TV3 news item

Apparition during press conference?

The Medjugorje visionary Vicka Ivankovic is now in Ireland and this evening is due to give a talk on Our Lady’s messages in the Shelbourne Hall at the Royal Dublin Showground (RDS).

Tomorrow night the 46-year-old seer is scheduled to make a guest appearance on Irish television’s Late, Late Show. It is expected that the show will screen pre-recorded footage of Our Lady’s apparition to Vicka from that afternoon, due to take place around 4.40pm (GMT) at a press conference.

Has there ever been an apparition of Our Lady at a scheduled press conference before?

It is not often that Vicka is filmed these days during any of the daily apparitions she receives, and the footage from the press conference is sure to make its way around the world very quickly through numerous media channels.

update: Footage of Vicka receiving Our Lady’s apparition was screened on TV3’s 5.30 news programme.

My way or God’s way?

Poor Peter... he is the first of the disciples to respond to the question put by Jesus, “Who do you say I am?” He answers, “You are the Christ.” Then a short time later later he finds himself remonstrating with Jesus about the Lord’s decision to head towards Jerusalem and certain death.

And for this, in front of all the disciples, Jesus rebukes Peter with the words, “Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.”

So, in faith, Peter recognises and accepts Jesus as the Christ, anointed by God to redeem Israel, but struggles to understand any requirement for the Messiah to have to suffer at the hands of the people he has come to save.

I guess we can all admit at times to not knowing the ways of God in our own lives and instead wanting God to do things according to our will. After all, are we not made in his image and likeness? It’s an easy trap to fall into, the ways and understanding taught by the world. Satan isn’t slow to miss any opportunity to come in front of us and whisper that there is another and easier way to live forever, that it doesn’t have to be the way God commands – just as he lied to Eve.

In her Medjugorje messages Our Lady often gives a heads-up to our false ways of thinking, and invites us to adjust our understanding and any thoughts motivated by a selfish, self-interest. She also warns us to be on our guard because satan is strong and is working hard in the world.

Today I call you, together with me, to begin to build the Kingdom of Heaven in your hearts; that you may forget that what is personal and – led by the example of my Son – think of what is of God. August 2, 2010

When I told you: convert, pray, fast, be reconciled, you took these messages superficially. You started to live them and then you stopped, because it was difficult for you. No, dear children, when something is good, you have to persevere in the good and not think: “God does not see me, he is not listening, he is not helping.” And so you have gone away from God and from me because of your miserable interest.  March 25, 1992

Dear children! At this time, do not only think of rest for your body but, little children, seek time also for the soul. July 25, 2006

• Many think that they have faith in God and that they know his laws. They try to live according to them, but they do not do what is the most important; they do not love him. October 2, 2006

• You are so blind and attached to earthly things and think of earthly life. God sent me to lead you toward eternal life. October 25, 2006

My children, do not deceive yourselves with worldly goods. Think of your soul because it is more important than the body, cleanse it. Invoke the Father, he is waiting for you. Come back to him. November 2, 2009

• God can give you everything that you seek from Him. But you seek God only when sicknesses, problems and difficulties come to you and you think that God is far from you and is not listening and does not hear your prayers. No, dear children, that is not the truth.  January 25, 1988

The first of the ‘mayors’?

The mayor of Quincy in Massachusetts, Thomas Koch, has announced he will make a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in March.

Is he the first of the “mayors”, as mentioned in the prophecy of visionary Jakov Colo, that when Our Lady’s promised permanent sign appears on Apparition Hill it will be the cause of many “mayors” rushing to Medjugorje?

• Commenting on the statement that Jakov made during the early days of the apparitions, the visionary Mirjana gave this explanation:

“When Jakov said that the mayor will be the first one to run to the hill, he meant that generally, people of the highest social class. They will understand the sign as a place or occasion to convert. They will run up the hill and pray and they will be forgiven.”

A light for my path...

Your word is a lamp for my steps and a light for my path. Psalm 118

Dear children! Today I invite you to become missionaries of my messages, which I am giving here through this place that is dear to me. God has allowed me to stay this long with you and therefore, little children, I invite you to live with love the messages I give and to transmit them to the whole world, so that a river of love flows to people who are full of hatred and without peace. I invite you, little children, to become peace where there is no peace and light where there is darkness, so that each heart accepts the light and the way of salvation. Thank you for having responded to my call.
Medjugorje message, February 25, 1995

Listen to your Mother...

The serpent is the most subtle of all the wild beasts that the Lord God has made. Genesis 3 : 1

The serpent’s tactics haven’t changed since he fed Eve in the Garden with his first lie, encouraging her to share the lie with Adam. The lie is that we shall not die if we disobey God’s commandment.

satan is the father of lies.

satan attempted to deceive Jesus in the desert but Jesus was able for the serpent; after all, he had just completed 40 days fasting and prayer.

And now the serpent is accusing those who live the message of Medjugorje – who pray and fast – of being disobedient to God himself. How’s that for twisting the truth? And like Adam and Eve, there are some who are tempted to take on this lie and encourage others to feed on it.

Lies bring death. Truth brings life

It is the Mother who crushes the serpent’s head.

Am I disobedient:
when I pray?
when I fast?
when I repent of my sins?
when I receive the Sacraments?
when I listen to the Word of God?
when I receive the Eucharist?
when I accept God’s merciful love?
when I set out to do the will of God?
when I choose to love my neighbour?

Dear children! Today also I am calling you to prayer. Your prayers are necessary to me so that God may be glorified through all of you. Dear children, I pray you, obey and live the Mother's invitation, because only out of love am I calling you in order that I might help you. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, January 16 ,1986

Fr Svet talk to pilgrims in Medjugorje

A SIGN ON THE ROAD...

Medjugorje is just a tiny, bit-of-a-sign on the road. Nothing else. You really need not pay too much attention to a sign on the road. But it’s wonderful to see a sign, it is really exciting to see a sign and find out that you are heading in the right direction. It’s really, really assuring and wonderful. But you don’t stop there; your destiny is not there; you continue. Pilgrimage continues. Peter wanted to stop but Jesus said, “Stay away from me satan.” Fr Svetozar Kraljevic

Our Lady of Lourdes

The Lord says: Now towards her I send flowing peace,

like a river, and like a stream in spate the glory of the nations. 

(Isaiah 66)

The need of the Mother...

• In today’s gospel (Mark 7 : 24-30) a pagan woman approaches Jesus and asks him to cast out the devil in her little daughter.

Jesus replies in a way that at first appears derogatory. He says: “The children should be fed first, because it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.” But then the pagan woman answers: “Ah yes, sir, but the house-dogs under the table can eat the children’s scraps.”

And for saying this Jesus tells the pagan woman that she can go home happy because the devil has gone out of her daughter.

It seems that we all have a place in life. Rank plays an important role in our day-to-day lives. Some are blessed to have their fill, while others can only feed from scraps. But we can see from this gospel passage that God provides for all, whatever our status, pagan or true believer.

The pagan woman is a concerned mother who brings her worry to the feet of Jesus. She shows faith in doing this. And Jesus accepts her as she is, a pagan woman looked down on by those he first sets out to proclaim the Good News to, the House of Israel. He is prepared to nourish her with the same bread, the Word of God, himself. He provides what she pleads for, the need of healing for her little girl.

I watched a video today that showed the visionary Mirjana speaking about the first days of the Medjugorje phenomenon. One thing she said stayed with me: “She (Our Lady) needed us the way we were.” The visionaries admit they were not chosen because they were the best, or the worst.

And which mother can ever say that she does not “need” her children. All mothers have a “need” in some way for their children, just as the pagan woman had a need for her child. Why else did she come to Jesus to seek healing for the little girl?

And Our Blessed Mother also has a “need” for ALL of her children, and accepts us as we are, whatever our state or condition, but she also sees the need to take steps to bring the healing of Jesus to her children.

A Medjugorje priest tells of the time when his country was at war. Many local mothers, many families, provided sons to fight at the front line. The priest relates that the mothers would pray every day for the safe return of their sons. But then the reality began to unfold. Some of these men would not return to their mothers in the same state when they left home. Some would come back wounded, some scarred and disfigured, some with missing limbs, some with psychological damage.

By now the mothers had started to accept that their children may return not in a way as they would want them to, but every day the mothers would continue praying for their sons to come home. This was their need – only for their sons to come home, whatever their condition.

Unfortunately, in life we do not always want to accept certain people into our lives, especially into our hearts, if they are not wholesome, if they are damaged. We may even describe them in a derogatory way. We may even consider them no better than animals and call them dogs when we observe their way of life and see them living off discarded scraps.

But Jesus provides. Jesus has need for them, and so does Mary – just the way they are. One word from Jesus – a scrap or a morsel – can be enough to nourish and heal. Love.

I hear you are asking for hearts...

• More from Fr Slavko Barbaric...

Our Lady asks us to give her our hearts. I do not know what its exact meaning is for you, but ‘to give’ in Croatian means to donate, to make a present of, and this word is always positive for us. I cannot give something which is bad or ugly. Our Lady is asking for our hearts as a present.

What does it mean to give? Our Lady wants your heart as a present; that means that your heart is worth something, someone loves it, someone wants it as a present.

Our Lady says, “I want your heart as a present.” In this same way a mother can speak like this who is able to see good points where there are also bad ones. These words should bring us joy if we are feeling lonely, misunderstood, or we feel that people do not appreciate us.

If you do not know how to begin with your heart, you can say to Our Lady, “I heard that your are asking for our hearts. Here is mine!” If you do this you have begun something worthwhile.

Fr Slavko Barbaric ofm

Faraway hearts

In today’s gospel reading in ordinary time (Mark 7 : 1-13) Jesus calls the pharisees and scribes “hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prophesised...” This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me.

Our Lady, in her latest message to Mirjana just a week ago (February 2), also recalls Isaiah’s prophecy mentioned by Jesus when she says: Your lips pronounce countless words, but your spirit does not feel anything.

More prayer, more love...

• by Fr Slavko Barbaric ofm

Prayer is an expression of our relationship with God. Therefore, a problem with prayer always reflects a problem with this relationship. One who loves God will pray with ease, and will pray more. One who loves God will commit himself to prayer with love. The more time we spend with the Lord in prayer, the more we will love him. Then we will have more time for prayer. In this way, our life is transformed into prayer.

How do we start to pray? What is the difference between the decision to pray and praying with love. These are questions which naturally evolve. The beginning of the answer to these questions can be found within the human heart.

Prayer like love, is given to us as a gift, as a seed which needs to be taken care of to enable it to grow and to develop. This care of prayer should come as naturally as a child learns to speak with its mother’s language. However, in this world life is not so aural that the gift of prayer can be naturally developed. That is the reason why God raises special people, communities or places where, in a special way, a desire for prayer can be awakened and accepted by people. That place for many in recent years has been Medjugorje and the Queen of Peace.

This awakened desire for God seeks order and regularity. It seeks a commitment; a commitment to love. When we begin to pray, we pray consciously to leave everything else behind, all work and all people. It is necessary to turn off the television and not respond to the telephone and find a quiet corner in our home in which to pray. This will help us meet God within ourselves. Very often we allow things, people, and events to pull us away from prayer, Mary, the teacher of spiritual life, seeks from us a concrete and lasting decision to pray and she promises success.

Medjugorje witness

• Here’s a simple but powerful comment that Fr Slavko Barbaric once related:

I know many who have given up drink, drugs, strife and hate. A young Italian pilgrim told me: “I used to take drugs but gave them up, as last summer a friend of mine went to Medjugorje with drugs in his hand and returned with the Rosary.”

Shining lights...

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5 : 14-16

Dear children! Also today I am with you and I am looking at you and blessing you, and I am not losing hope that this world will change for the good and that peace will reign in the hearts of men. 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’. Therefore I desire to say to you: thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, January 25, 2011

Our Lady’s February message to Mirjana

Dear children, you are gathering around me, you are seeking your way, you are seeking, you are seeking the truth but are forgetting what is the most important, you are forgetting to pray properly. Your lips pronounce countless words, but your spirit does not feel anything. Wandering in darkness, you even imagine God himself according to yourselves, and not such as he really is in his love. Dear children, proper prayer comes from the depth of your heart, from your suffering, from your joy, from your seeking the forgiveness of sins. This is the way to come to know the right God, and by that also yourselves, because you are created according to him. Prayer will bring you to the fulfillment of my desire, of my mission here with you, to the unity of God’s family. Thank you. February 2, 2011

This people approaches me only in words, honours me only with lip service while its heart is far from me. Isaiah 29 L 13

• My heart is ready, God, my heart is ready... Psalm 57 : 7

My soul, give thanks to the Lord,
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord,
and never forget all his blessings.
Psalm 102 : 1-2

Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, “Abba Father!” Romans 8 : 14-15

• And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us. And do not put us to the test, but save us from the Evil One.

Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either. Matthew 6 : 5-15

• Today is also the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas Day) when we light candles to celebrate the end of the Christmas festival of light and to welcome Jesus, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of his people, as Simeon does in today’s gospel.

Our lady does not mention the words “pagans” or “gentiles” or “unbelievers” in her message, but she does speak about those wandering in darkness, the unenlightened. And she makes reference to praying in countless words in a way that does nothing for our spirit, a similar caution given by Jesus in Matthew’s gospel when he taught the disciples how to pray. He said, “In your prayers, do not babble as the pagans do” (Matthew 6 : 7)

So today’s message can be seen as a message of enlightenment, warning us about the “pagan” way of praying that we sometimes adopt – prayer without heart. The light of Christ can only shine brightly in us if we pray with the heart, when we can say, “My heart is ready, God, my heart is ready...” (psalm 57 : 7) and allow the Spirit within us to move and make us cry out, “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8 : 14). We will only be able to recognise our true God, our salvation, as Simeon was able to see, and not imagine a false God, when we stop our babbling and allow ourselves to be truly open to meeting with God in prayer and heart.

As all Our Lady’s messages are, this is yet another to enlighten and teach us the way that leads to holiness.

• Fr Neil Buchlein’s reflection on Mirjana’s message

Our responsibility to be peacemakers...

Struggling to find real peace in your life at this moment? Then let Our Lady and these inspired words of Fr Slavko help you today. Accept the wonderful invitation of Our Blessed Mother to the way of peace and reconciliation.

• Our Lady is giving us messages. She is inviting us to prayer, peace, reconciliation, faith and fasting… Why does this happen? It happens for one reason only. We are all invited to peace and reconciliation. And we are all in great need of this very peace – individuals, families, the Church and the whole world. According to all these messages – one could say – Our Lady is making us responsible for peace. And I do believe Our Lady knows what she is doing, what she is saying – namely, that we must allow ourselves to be made responsible.

Please do not wash your hands of it by saying, “I am not a diplomat, I am not a politician, peace does not depend on me.” Peace depends on us all.

This, it seems to me, is the most important thing – to look with a new heart, with a new eye at one’s responsibility in the world and all that is going on around us, How can we give our personal response to all this which we are invited to?

Our Lady said, “Pray and fast.” This is perhaps the hardest way to obtain peace, but is it not perhaps the only one?

Conversion is asked of all of us – a change in one’s own everyday life. And this is the most difficult thing of all. Sometimes it is easier to give money to the poor than to forgive someone for a word or to forget an insult. But it is only on these grounds that one can build up peace – by being reconciled and by forgiving.

And every man who is reconciled, every family who lives in peace, is always a new sign that peace is possible and, with each reconciled person, the entire world is brought closer to peace.

• Fr Slavko Barbaric ofm