Medjugorje Facts

BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER

MEDJUGORJE'S IMPATIENT DETRACTORS HELP CREATE DIVISION

The Vatican patiently waits, but Medjugorje's detractors have an itchy trigger finger.

"Private revelations require patience and discernment before a complete assessment of them can occur. For example, after the Blessed Virgin's appearance at Lourdes, there were over 150 alleged Marian apparitions in the next five years in Europe alone! None of these were ever authorized after subsequent investigation and discernment. No one is bound to accept anything contained in a private revelation." (source).

Since the alleged apparitions began at Medjugorje in 1981, there have been many critics. Extremely notably absent from the critics list are some of the most important:

The Vatican
Specifically Pope John Paul II
The Scientific Community

THE VATICAN VIA JPII, CARDINAL RATZINGER & OTHER CARDINALS

The Vatican position is, in a nutshell, "Let's wait and see". This is actually a deliberate understatement on my part as it is well-known that Pope John Paul II firmly believes in the Medjugorje apparitions. In response to thanks for what he did to free Poland from communism he has said, "NO, NOT ME, BUT BY THE WORKS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN ACCORDING TO HER AFFIRMATIONS AT FATIMA AND MEDJUGORJE." He also said "MEDJUGORJE IS THE FULFILLMENT AND CONTINUATION OF FATIMA." Pope John Paul II rarely made the effort to restrain his enthusiasm for Medjugorje and his positive views are clear for the whole world to see, such that no-one can be mistaken. Click here for a long list of sayings and actions from JPII, Cardinal Ratzinger & other cardinals that clearly support Medjugorje. No doubt, there are still some detractors who will find something to say about them! But, we can be sure that ANY detraction is purely mischief-making and it can be firmly rejected as such.

I could end this essay right there. If it's good enough for the Vatican to resist making an controversial premature comment, let alone pass any firm judgment, it should be good enough for every doubting Catholic to shut their mouth and wait. In the meantime, the Vatican allows anybody to travel to Medjugorje who wishes to, closely watching the fruits and making certain that nothing goes against Church teachings.

Appreciation letter to Father Jozo Zovko from JPII

A LETTER FROM ROME ON MEDJUGORJE

For the 17th Anniversary of the apparitions, the Church just gave a beautiful gift to Our Lady! The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith sent the following letter to Bishop Gilbert Aubry of Saint Denis clarifying its position on Medjugorje. He received it on June 24th. On the 25th, he spread it to the priests and communities of his diocese (circular # C003) so that they can have the latest statement from Rome and, if necessary, inform the faithful with full knowledge of the facts.

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CONGREGATIO
PRO DOCTRINA FIDEI
Pr. No 154/81-06419

Citta del Vaticano, Palazzo del S. Uffizio
May 26, 1998
To His Excellency Mons. Gilbert Aubry,
Bishop of Saint-Denis de la Reunion

Excellency:

In your letter of January 1, 1998, you submitted to this Dicastery several questions about the position of the Holy See and of the Bishop of Mostar in regard to the so called apparitions of Medjugorje, private pilgrimages and the pastoral care of the faithful who go there.

In regard to this matter, I think it is impossible to reply to each of the questions posed by Your Excellency. The main thing I would like to point out is that the Holy See does not ordinarily take a position of its own regarding supposed supernatural phenomena as a court of first instance. As for the credibility of the "apparitions" in question, this Dicastery respects what was decided by the bishops of the former Yugoslavia in the Declaration of Zadar, April 10, 1991: "On the basis of the investigations so far, it can not be affirmed that one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and revelations." Since the division of Yugoslavia into different independent nations it would now pertain to the members of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia-Hercegovina to eventually reopen the examination of this case, and to make any new pronouncements that might be called for.

What Bishop Peric said in his letter to the Secretary General of "Famille Chretienne", declaring: "My conviction and my position is not only 'non constat de supernaturalitate,' but likewise, 'constat de non supernaturalitate' of the apparitions or revelations in Medjugorje", should be considered the expression of the personal conviction of the Bishop of Mostar which he has the right to express as Ordinary of the place, but which is and remains his personal opinion.

Finally, as regards pilgrimages to Medjugorje, which are conducted privately, this Congregation points out that they are permitted on condition that they are not regarded as an authentification of events still taking place and which still call for an examination by the Church.

I hope that I have replied satisfactorily at least to the principal questions that you have presented to this Dicastery and I beg Your Excellency to accept the expression of my devoted sentiments.

Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone
(Secretary to the "Congregatio", presided over by Cardinal Ratzinger)

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Fr. Daniel-Ange (France) summerizes this way:

The declarations of the Bishop of Mostar only reflect his personal opinion. Consequently, they are not an official and definitive judgement from the Church.
One is directed to the declaration of Zadar, which leaves the door open to future investigations. In the meanwhile private pilgrimages with pastoral accompaniment for the faithful are permitted.
A new commission could eventually be named.
In the meanwhile, all Catholics may go as pilgrims to Medjugorje.

QUOTE FROM THE COMMITTEE OF BISHOPS

"We bishops, after a three-year-long commission study accept Medjugorje as a holy place, as a shrine. This means that we have nothing against it if someone venerates the Mother of God in a manner also in agreement with the teaching and belief of the Church. . .Therefore, we are leaving that to further study. The Church does not hurry." (Glas Koncila, August 15, 1993).

SISTER LUCIA OF FATIMA ON MEDJUGORJE

Up until her death, Sr. Lucia continued to speak with Our Lady and reported that the Blessed Mother often spoke to about her work in Medjugorje. This was reported by Sr. Lucia's nephew, Fr. Salinho, a Salesian priest. The source for this information is the very trustworthy Sr. Emmanuel in her book, 'Medjugorje: the 90's', Pub.1997, page 71.

THE FRANCISCANS

Detractors have tried to paint the local Franciscans as the "bad guys", some correspondents insinuating that co-ercion and brainwashing tactics have been used to control the visionaries. The truth is that the parish pastor and other priests at first doubted the authenticity of the apparitions, leading one of the seers, Ivanka, to remark: “The only ones who do not believe us, are the priests and the police!”

DIABOLICAL OR "OF GOD"

The sticking point for Medjugorje's validation by the Church is that there is a chance (small chance though it is) that the apparitions could be diabolical. This is wise, as we know from the Bible that these times are to be associated with, among other things, false prophets. The sticking point does not appear to be whether the apparitions themselves are a hoax. The scientific community doesn't know what to do with Medjugorje any more. They have studied the visionaries and are, essentially, dumb-struck by what they have found. It does not appear, from all scientific accounts, that the visionaries are faking their apparitions. The question is "WHAT are they seeing?" not "IF they are seeing". The Catholic Church's arm's length stance on Medjugorje is nothing strange. As well as Medjugorje, there are other apparitions still under review with no firm pronouncement as yet. It can be a long process. (Click here for an overview of how the Catholic Church studies and approves Marian apparitions)

PAVAO ZANIC, BISHOP OF MOSTAR

Chief antagonist had been the late Bishop of Mostar, Pavao Zanic, and lately his successor Ratco Peric. Bishop Zanic appeared to be on a crusade all of his own and speculation is that his motives relate to a long-running battle with the Franciscans over directorship of parishes in the region. Cardinal Ratzinger discarded the conclusions of the Zanic Commission and withdrew Bishop Zanic's right to pass official judgement on Medjugorje's authenticity, a responsibility which Cardinal Ratzinger then passed to the Bishops' Conference of Yugoslavia, which was duly appointed to study the matter.

In 1987 the Vatican officially proclaimed Medjugorje a "shrine of worship" and authorised the Medjugorje Franciscans to minister to the spiritual needs of the pilgrims as well as entrusting to spiritual directors accompanying pilgrims the task of serving the sacramental obligations of the faithful while away from their own home parishes. The Yugoslav Commission of Bishops openly favored Medjugorje. On April 29, 1990 the National Catholic Register quoted Pope John Paul II as having told Bishop Murilo Krieger of Santa Caterina, Brazil: "Medjugorje is a great center of spirituality."

Shortly therafter, the Catholic News Service published a scathing article dramatising the report of the Yugoslavian Bishops Conference which stated that they could not confirm that the Medjugorje apparitions were of a supernatural nature (supernatural meaning "of God"). Diocesan papers across the country had headlines proclaiming: "Medjugorje Apparitions Not Supernatural", negatively influencing many Catholics and believers and helping to begin the completely unnecessary gun-jumping wedge-driving process that has resulted in the polarisation of Catholics who believe from those who do not, evident today. Yet, on December 23, 1990 Cardinal Kuharic, the highest prelate of the Yugoslav Commission, stated implicitly that "the Bishops' Conference was taking a positive stance towards the events in Medjugorje." The President of the Yugoslav Bishops Commission, Archbishop Frane Franic, in an interview in September 1991, cited Paul's words of 1 Thessalonians 5: 19-22, i.e. that, following Paul's call, "It is the duty of the Church Authority as St. Paul says not to suffocate the spirit in the Church of Love but to discern the spirits". Unfortunately, too often many bishops and priests put it aside. They should examine it for whatever is good and coming from the Holy Spirit, like Medjugorje."

Read letter from Pavao Zanic outlining his position and reasons

YUGOSLAV BISHOPS' CONFERENCE DECISION

In May 1987, the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference nominated Bishop Frajo Comarica, Auxiliary Bishop of Banja Luka, ex-professor of theology at Sarajevo University, and youngest bishop in the Yugoslav episcopate, as President of the Medjugorje Inquiry Commission. By mid-1988 the Commission was reported to have terminated its work with a positive judgment on the apparitions. However, not wishing to directly contradict Bishop Zanic, the group continued its proceedings at a snail's pace, hoping that the pilgrimages would diminish and disappear. After a long and exhausting "tug-of-war" within the episcopate, the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, in the 1990 (November 27-28) extraordinary assembly in Zagreb, approved the following Declaration:

From the very beginning, the Bishops have been following events in Medjugorje through reports by the local Bishop, the local diocesan Commission, and the Yugoslav Bishops' Commission on Medjugorje. On the basis of research conducted until now, we cannot affirm that there have been supernatural apparitions or revelations.
Nonetheless, the continuing gatherings of faithful, inspired by religious motives and arriving from various parts of the world, necessitate the Bishops' constant attention and concern. For that reason. our Bishops' Conference, in a spirit of ecclesial communion, is willing to assist the resident Bishop in organizing pastoral activities at Medjugorje, in order to promote a correct liturgical and pastoral life in the parish, and thus avoid events or teachings which may not conform to the spirit of the Church.

To many, this Declaration appeared ambiguous. Although the supernatural essence of the apparitions is not affirmed, there is recognition of the resulting "cult," to be "managed" by the resident Bishop. On this subject, ex-Archbishop of Split Frane Franic stated in an interview with the Italian daily {Corriere della Sera}, on January 15, 1991, that only the ferocious opposition of Bishop Zanic, who refused to budge from his own verdict, had impeded a positive decision on the Medjugorje apparitions: "The bishops do not wish to humiliate Monsignor, Zanic," Franic stated, "And when it was brought to his attention that his opposition was unfounded, he began to cry and shout, and the bishops finally stopped arguing."

Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, Archbishop of Zagreb and President of the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, in an interview with Croatian public television on December 23, 1990, said that the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, including himself, "has a positive opinion of Medjugorje events."

How can we explain Bishop Zanic's behavior? Most conclusions on the subject seem to focus on the long-standing conflicts between the Franciscan and secular clergy in the Mostar region.

MIRACLES

Miracles in Medjugorje happen so frequently that it's tempting to call them "mundane" and to lose our awe of them. One of the most commonly experienced and talked-about miracles is the miracle of the sun. Many thousands have witnessed the sun spinning, gyrating, strobing, changing colours and being viewable with the naked eye for long periods without harm. My own mother has witnessed the sun miracle at Medjugorje. One should ask the question: Does Satan have command over nature and the elements that God created?

Satan, a defeated “cast away” angel, is super-human but not Divine having no more power than God ultimately allows (2 Thessalonians 2.6-11). If Satan could impact the weather, it would only be by God's permission, though restrained.

God controls the weather (Exodus 9:29; Psalms 135:6-7; Jeremiah 10:13).
God controls the skies (Psalms 77:16-19).
God controls the wind (Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25).
God sustains the universe (Jeremiah 51:15-16).
God is Light and controls the lesser light (Genesis 1.6, Psalm 36.9).
God has power over the clouds (Exodus 20.21).
God has power over lightning and Satan (Luke 10:18).
God has power over all nature (Job chapter26)

Click here for an amateur video clip of the miracle of the sun. It isn't that clear and we will post a clearer one as soon as we can get our hands on one!

THE FINDINGS OF SCIENCE

The political machinations and cults of personality have distracted people to a certain extent from what is really the crux of the matter - whether the apparitions themselves are a hoax. The following is a summary of the main findings of science, concerning the visions themselves, to date.

Medical Research
Source: http://www.medjugorje.org/science.htm

The reported apparitions in Medjugorje are the first apparitions in history to be throughly investigated by science. Professor Henri Joyeaux headed a team from the University of Montpellier, France. Dr. Frigerio and colleagues from Italy did further investigation. The regularity of the apparitions has made for consistent and extremely reliable findings:

1) Five alleged visionaries tested were found to simultaneously look at precisely the same spot (even though no reference point was visible) within one-fifth of a second of each other when the Blessed Virgin Mary allegedly appears. Such synchronization can only be explained by some external "object" holding their gaze -- but one which those around them could not see.

2) During the same one-fifth of a second, there are simultaneous kneeling and the cessation of eye movements. There is no eye movement during the entire apparition (from 3 to 45 minutes). There is also the simultaneous raising of their heads and gazing upwards while remaining fixated on a spot moving upwards when the apparition is finishing.

3) Two of the alleged visionaries do not blink at all during the apparition. The eyeball normally dries when there is no regular blinking (15-20 times a minute) to moisten the cornea, but lacrimal secretion does not seem necessary during the apparition. The other alleged visionaries blink about half the normal rate. None of them blinks in response to touching the eye during the apparition (cornea sensitivity to varying pressures is completely absent), although they blink normally at other times.

4) There is no reaction to pain during the apparition. When touched with an algometer, which causes a cutaneous lesion or skin burn, there was complete absence of sensitivity. The alleged visionaries react normally to pain at other times.

5) The interesting results of a hearing test before and during an apparition showed normal hearing, but during the apparition, an input of ninety decibels (equivalent to a loud explosion) showed NO reaction. Auditory evoked potential measurement (electrical activity of the ear) indicates normal ear activity with no transmission to the inner ear during the apparition. It is a measurable inhibition of hearing that is involuntary and inexplicable physiologically.

6) Electroencephalographic (EEG) tests confirm that the alleged visionaries' brain functioning is normal and healthy. EEG tests rule out the possibility of epilepsy or psychotic hallucinations. The alleged visionaries are not asleep or dreaming either. Hysterical neurotic reaction or pathological ecstasy is also ruled out by the EEG testing. What EEG testing showed was that before the apparition, the brain waves are predominantly beta rhythm interspersed by alpha rhythm (normal conscious attentiveness). At the start of the apparition, the beta rhythm remains for a short time and then is replaced by an almost uninterrupted alpha rhythm. Alpha rhythm is most often observed during relaxation, in a state of expectation, or engaged in meditation. It also usually requires practice to achieve such a diffuse response. Because most of the brain is devoted to visual processing, it is noteworthy that the alpha rhythm over the entire cranium was exhibited while the alleged visionaries had their eyes wide open throughout the apparition. Closed eyes would be expected with alph rhythm because visual stimulation usually produces interference with alpha rhythm.

7) To test visual stimulation further, a 1000 watt light bulb was placed in front of the eyes of the alleged visionaries during the apparition. Not only is a 1000 watt light bulb usually painful to the eye but also it would normally cause increased blinking and influence alpha rhythm. There was no blinking movement of the eyelids to the 1000 watt stimulus. There was an interesting pupillary response. The pupil contracted as one would expect in bright light but there was no change in alpha rhythm to the 1000 watt light. This is scientifically inexplicable and never seen before. FOR THE PUPIL TO RESPOND, THE BRAIN MUST REGISTER THE LIGHT BUT NO BRAIN WAVE CHANGE TOOK PLACE. Additionally, such intense stimulation normally causes a significant cortical response, but none occurred during the apparition period.

8) During the apparition period, another scientifically inexplicable event takes place. The alleged visionaries voices stop during the time that they are having the vision. Even though all the muscles involved in speech continue (all mouth, jaw and throat muscles), the larynx (voice box) shuts off. This is physically impossible. The laryngeal function cannot be physically isolated from the rest of the muscles of speech. The larynx ceases to emit sound during the apparition -- except for one exception. In unison, during the apparition the alleged visionaries will be heard simultaneously praying, "Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name..." When asked, they report Mary is leading them in the Lord's Prayer.

9) In summary, the unique aspects of the results of the scientific investigations point to the conclusion that nothing in the physical realm is allowed to interfere with the apparition experience. Scientific experts have defined the phenomena " as a state of active, intense prayer, partially disconnected from the external world, a state of contemplation with a separate person whom they alone can see, hear, and touch."

The current attitude of the church after fourteen years of scrutiny is a kind of provisional approval. Both the Pope and the former Bishops are treating and nurturing Medjugorje as a legitimate place of pilgrimage. Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II strongly believes in the fruits of Medjugorje. In response to thanks for what he did to free Poland from communism he has said, "NO, NOT ME, BUT BY THE WORKS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN ACCORDING TO HER AFFIRMATIONS AT FATIMA AND MEDJUGORJE." He also said "MEDJUGORJE IS THE FULFILLMENT AND CONTINUATION OF FATIMA." American Church leaders would do well to offer the same kind of provisional approval and pastoral assistance to those experiencing conversion through Medjugorje.

More scientific analysis from http://www.scientificexploration.org (pdf document)

HERESY?

Detractors love to pick on Mary's purported statement: "Tell the priests and everyone else that you have created division on earth. The Muslims and the Orthodox and the Catholics are all the same to me and my son. You are all my children." What the detractors don't point out clearly enough is HOW and WHERE this statement CLEARLY conflicts with Catholic belief. Can it not be true that we are all God's children and equal before Him, regardless of religion. Doesn't God have sufficient justice and wisdom to realise that religion doesn't hide one from sin and that if a religion-less person does good all his life, should he not be rewarded in place of a Catholic who does evil all his life? Look at how Jesus rejected the beliefs of the time, with his main target being the Pharisees. He rejected them, not because their religion, which was of course directly from God Himself. He rejected them because of their HEARTS. This is the point Mary was making, but it became cannon fodder for detractors.

DISOBEDIENCE, LIES AND SEXUAL SCANDALS

Unfortunately, these have been a part of the very fabric of the Catholic Church since the beginning. But this doesn't mean that the Catholic Church should be abandoned or doubts raised as to the divine origins of the Catholic Church, though Satan would love this to be the result and certain scandal-loving detractors are helping his cause.

Even if any of it is true regarding Medjugorje, these are matters for the Church to deal with on a personal level, not forgetting that final judgement belongs to God and certainly none of us should have any judgement upon it. The visionaries and priests are human like everybody else. And it shouldn't surprise anyone that Satan would wish to specifically target those at the front line with all manner of scandal and temptation. But, notice that the visions and their fruits have gone on and that these scandalous things have fallen by the wayside. Nothing stops the truth marching on, at least nothing Satan can come up with.

Detractors like to call this the bad fruit of Medjugorje and symbolically attempt to blot out 100,000 square metres of good fruit with one can of black paint that Satan managed to come up with. Yes, Satan is very tricky indeed. But we should not be deceived into tarring the validity of Medjugorje with Satan's brush. If not by the grace and mercy of God, it will be me or you who is charged with disobedience, lying or involvment in some sexual scandal tomorrow. If anything it shows how even the purest can be tempted and, as a result, how very much we are in need of God's mercy. It also illustrates that God does not show favouritism by granting instant sainthood to these visionaries and priests.

THE FRUITS OF MEDJUGORJE

"BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM"
When we speak of the fruits Medjugorje bears for the Church, even critics are silent. Today pilgrims - both Christian and non-Christian - arrive at Medjugorje from every corner of the world. With more than 16 million visitors, the site has become the scene of an exceptional spiritual revival. More confessions are heard in Medjugorje than in any other parish of the entire world; more than 150 confessors work without interruption here every day. In the year 1990 (before the outbreak of civil war), 1,900,000 people took Communion (more than at Fatima); 30,000 priests and bishops have visited the site. Many conversions are reported, even among those who come out of curiosity, or simply to accompany friends or relatives. In the USA 600 Medjugorje prayer groups have been formed; in Austria 500; and several hundred in Italy.

Source: http://www.queenofpeace.ca/Medjugorje_new_signs.htm
As one of the books, The Fruits of Medjugorje, by Elizabeth Ficocelli, relates, "it is claimed that more confessions are heard at St. James Church in Medjugorje than in any parish in the world, keeping more than 150 confessors busy every day. It is reported that more than 30,000 priests and bishops have visited the Croatian village. In 1990, at the peak of political unrest and just prior to the outbreak of civil war, 1.9 million people received Communion in Medjugorje, surpassing even the popular shrine at Fatima."

SUMMARY

It is quite clear from scientific reports that a genuine unexplained apparition is definitely occuring. The only question in the minds of the people who matter is whether the apparitions are of the Virgin Mary herself and, by inference, of God, or whether these are diabolical apparitions.

A reasonable person could draw the conclusion that, far from the apparitions themselves being diabolical, this cap fits squarely on the heads of those who pass negative judgment a tad too hastily and in a rather too fanatical and offensive manner. I refer especially to correspondents of Unity Publishing and others like them. Unity Publishing have many misleading inaccuracies on their website including that Medjugorje has been condemned by the Church. They are of course referring to the Bishop of Mostar's condemnation, of which I have written extensively above. Why does Unity Publishing, whose very name and mission statement indicate a desire to unify Christians, choose to use half-truths and innuendo to split Christians apart even more? It is a crying shame. Good catholics with good hearts, who are not being told anything whatsoever that is contrary to the Catholic Canon at Medjugorje, and with hearts full of warmth and desire towards God, praying the rosary daily, going to confession and the sacraments more than ever before, fasting and praying for their unbelieving neighbours. These good Christians are being nothing less than tormented by the activities of organisations such as Unity Publishing, an organisation that has arrogantly believed it can pass judgement ahead of the vatican, with poor research and sensationalist tactics to boot. Yet, their mission statement says that they use these reports to "dispel the darkness", "break the spells" and free them from "baffling deceptions". These are the very things they are NOT doing and are actually doing the opposite. Why? Because they don't have the patience to wait as the Vatican is doing. Their itchy trigger fingers and love for sensationalism and media for the sake of it has driven them. Something is very wrong there. When one reads the aggressive language on their websites, one can easily think they have stumbled upon an atheist website.

The fruits of Medjugorje have been outstanding for the Catholic Church. The fruits of those who debunk Medjugorje and in such a presumptuous manner that even the Vatican itself would never adopt, has been confusion and division, resulting in disillusionment and anger among lovers of the Catholic Church. And where there is such negativity weighing on the minds and hearts of Catholics, prayer and good works must suffer. Surely, these very things are what Satan is trying to achieve.

Mary has promised through the visionaries that God will leave a permanent sign on Cross mountain ("Krizevac") so that everyone will know the visions are authentic, i.e. from God. The detractors complain that it has been too long already and that we should have received this sign by now. The visionaries themselves have purportedly asked the Blessed Mother why she has been here so long. Mary reportedly smiled and said something like "Are you tired of me already?". The Blessed Mother also told the visionaries that this is the final time she will appear on earth in this way. She has also told the visionaries that the prayers and conversions are helping her and that, because of this, God's heart has essentially softened to the extent that visionary Mirjana says that one of the evils that threatened the world, the one contained in the seventh secret, has been averted thanks to prayer and fasting. That is why the Blessed Virgin continues to encourage prayer and fasting: “You have forgotten that through prayer and fasting you can avert war and suspend the laws of nature.”

It is clear to the faithful that Mary is pleading before God and eliciting the prayers, sacrifices and other voluntary support of the faithful in order to accomplish her goal of saving mankind from the just anger of God. In the eyes of people who have pondered these things, it is a case of "the longer the Blessed Mother stays, the better!" But certain factions, whatever their agenda might be, simply can't wait and their impatience is making life hell for the Catholic church and for all believers in the meatime. Catholics are fighting Catholics, sounding reminiscent of the end-times prohecies of "Brother against brother..."

PICTURES

Believed to be an actual snapshot of Mary taken by a priest visiting Medjugorje	Angel clouds	Visionary Vicka gets an angelic spear through the heart	Crucified Jesus cloud

More Medjugorje Photos...

OTHER TIDBITS

April 4, 2005 - Reported in Spirit Daily.com. From the mailbag: A friend of ours close to Medjugorje seer Ivan Dragicevic of Bosnia-Hercegovina writes, "At Ivan's apparition tonight (4/2 in U.S.) Ivan was recommending intentions to Our Lady when the Pope appeared on her left. He was smiling, young and very happy. All in white with a long gold cape. Our Lady said to Ivan: 'this is my son; he is with me.' Personally, I have never seen Ivan so happy."
Did Death of Pope signal Final Coming of Christ?

MEDJUGORJE TESTIMONIES & MIRACLE STORIES

Article by Paul Baylis. Published April 4, 2006.
This article borrows material from other websites and press materials and in some cases directly quotes these sources.

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