Until June 24, 1981, Medjugorje was a small village unknown to the world, situated on a barren plain among the hills, in the stony heart of Herzegovina. Yet, from that day onward, Our Lady descended to the blessed land of Medjugorje thousands upon thousands of times. And that place became a pilgrimage destination for millions of faithful.
The first apparition
The Virgin Mary appeared to a group of six young people to deliver, through them, a message to humanity: the invitation to conversion through prayer and fasting. The first apparition took place on June 24, 1981, at 4 p.m., when two girls aged 15 and 16, Ivanka Ivankovic and Mirjana Dragicevic, while walking at the foot of a rocky hill called Podbrdo, saw a female figure on a small cloud. At around 6:30 p.m., they returned to the hill accompanied by Vicka Ivankovic, Ivanka's cousin. The three girls said they saw the mysterious figure again, this time holding a child in her arms, and immediately identified her as the Virgin.
Are the apparitions real?
From this event began a story that has reached several million people, inspiring approval, acceptance, and conversions, but also rejection and doubts. The Holy See has not yet issued a definitive judgment. The conclusions of the Commission led by Cardinal Ruini, established by Benedict XVI to investigate the authenticity of the apparitions and active from 2010 to 2014, have not yet been made public.
However, Pope Francis demonstrated his pastoral concern by appointing the Polish archbishop Henryk Hoser, who returned to the Father's house in 2021, as apostolic visitor to the parish of Medjugorje, thereby authorizing dioceses and parishes to organize pilgrimages. On November 27, 2021, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Aldo Cavalli as the new apostolic visitor.
The main themes of the apparitions in Medjugorje
Prayer: Medjugorje is a place that awakens slumbering hearts, a place of worldwide prayer; for many, it has become an almost daily school of prayer. Thousands of people have begun to pray and committed themselves to putting the messages of Our Lady into practice.
Peace: The main purpose of the apparitions is peace, and like a common thread, it runs through everything Mary says and does. That is why she often speaks about the conditions for peace: conversion, prayer, fasting, faith, complete surrender to God, and remaining with her on the path to holiness. She has also clearly indicated the means of attaining it: praying the Rosary, going to confession, reading Sacred Scripture, celebrating Holy Mass, and doing good.
The Eucharist: the beating heart of Medjugorje is the Eucharist celebrated at Holy Mass every day and contemplated during solemn evening adoration on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. From the Eucharist, Jesus radiates his presence, as the sun radiates light and warmth…
Holy Mass: The Queen of Peace, a caring Mother and Teacher, has spoken since the beginning of Medjugorje’s spiritual journey about this necessary encounter between our hearts and Jesus during the Eucharistic celebration.
Confession: the way to reach Jesus is conversion, repentance for the sins committed, and sacramental confession.
On this 42nd anniversary of the apparitions in Medjugorje, Mary tells us that she is beside us, beside each of her children, to help us on our journey; that her maternal presence changes our lives, changing sadness into joy, worries into plans and solutions. Mary tells us that each of our little worlds and the whole world can be better if we allow her to make us new creatures.
Happy anniversary to everyone!
