English | Nederlands
(Note: This is a semi-final translation of the Dutch text. Suggestions
with regard to the translation are appreciated. Send e-mail to jgamleus@cs.ruu.nl.)
THE MOTHER OF GOD APPEARS IN MEDJUGORJE
Life in the Parish of Medjugorje (West-Hercegovina) and a large part of
the surrounding area changed completely after the Mother of God appeared
for the first time to Vicka (16), Mirjana (16), Marija (16), Ivan (16),
Ivanka (15) en Jakov (10) in adjoining Bijakovici on 25th June
1981.
The Holy Virgin said to them:"I am the Queen of Peace. I
have come, because there are many true believers here. I want to be with
you to convert and to reconcile the whole world."
So began a
many years during series of daily appearances on the Podbrdo, in the
annex-sacristy of the Parish church, in the presbytery, on
the gallery of the church, on the Krizevac and
elsewhere.
Father Jozo Zovko, the pastor, initially had great
difficulties with this. But the Mother of God convinced him personally.
The seers and the pastor were persecuted by the communist authorities.
It even costed Father Jozo one and a half year solitary detention in
prison...
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- This cross on the Podbrdo (Apparition mountain) shows the
site of the apparitions.
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- Since 1933 the almost 9 m. high, concrete cross stands on
the top of the Krizevac (Mountain of the Cross).
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- The statue of the Queen of Peace on the church square. It was
carved out of Carrarian marble by the Italian artist Dino Felici.
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PRAY
"I ask you only, to pray passionately. Prayer must be
part of daily life so that true belief can flourish." (8 Sept.
'81)
"Start calling the Holy Spirit every day. The most important is
praying to the Holy Spirit. When he descends on earth, everything shall
become clear and everything shall change." (Advent '83)
"Let all families everyday devote themselves to the Sacred Heart. I
am very happy if the whole family comes together every morning to pray for
half an hour." (20 Oct. '83)
"I urge all of you to pray the rosary. Invite people for that
prayer. With the rosary you will overcome all difficulties which Satan
puts in the way of the
church. (25 June '85)
HOLY MASS
"I invite you to attend the Holy Mass. (...) Dear
children, I select you and Jesus will give you His graces during Holy
Mass. Live therefore Holy Mass consciously and come to it full of joy. Come
with love and receive Holy Mass as a grace." (3 April '86)
FAST
"The devil tries to get you in his power, but you must
remain strong and persist in your belief. You must pray and fast. I shall
always be near you. (Nov. '81) "The best way to fast is with
water and bread. Through fasting and praying the wars can be stopped and
the laws of nature can be suspended. Charity can not replace fasting.
Those who are not able to fast, can replace this however by prayer,
charity and confession, but all, except the sick, must fast." (21
Juli '82)
"If you don't have the strength to fats on water and
bread, you can give up other things. It would be very good not to watch
television, because after you have seen the programmes, you are
absent-minded and not able to pray. You can renounce alcohol, cigarettes
and other pleasures. You know yourselves what you must do." (8 Dec.
'81)
At the moment there are many that fast each Wednesday and Friday
on bread and water.
CONFESS
"People must be invited to confess each month,
especially on the first Saturday. (...) The monthly confession shall be a
medicine for the Church in the West. This message must be brought to the
West." (6 Aug. '82)
HOLY BIBLE
"Dear children, today I ask you to read
every day the bible in the family. Put it in a clearly visible place in
your home, so that it always encourages you to prayer.
Read each
Thursday before the Holy Sacrament - or in the family if it is not
possible to come to the church - chapter 6, verse 24-34 form the Gospel
according to Matthew." (1 March '84)
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- Jakov, Ivan and Marija during an apparition.
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- The visionary Vicka receives again and again pilgrims with a
special heartiness and endless patience.
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- The parish church of Medjugorje, dedicated to St. Jacob
the Superior, during the daily evening celebration.
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These and more than thousand other messages Mother Mary gave in
Medjugorje for all people, wherever in the world. Each 25th of the month
She gives a new message. In Belgium and Holland you can listen to that
message i.a. on these telephone numbers:
- Belgium (Flanders): 03
- 2355091
- Netherlands: 0418 - 592288
PILGRIMAGES TO MEDJUGORJE
The "Vrienden van Medjugorje" (Friends
of Medjugorje) in Hasselt (Belgium) and the "Stichting Vriendenkring
Medjugorje-Nederland" (Foundation Friends of Medjugorje-Netherlands) in De
Bilt (Netherlands) gladly provide you with all the names and
addresses of organisations and persons who organize pilgrimages
to Medjugorje.
BOOKS ON MEDJUGORJE
"Stichting Vriendenkring
Medjugorje-Nederland", Postbus 287, 3730 AG De Bilt, Netherlands (tel. +31
- 30 - 2201581) has published: - Boodschappen van
moeder Maria in Medjugorje Messages of Mother Mary in
Medjugorje). The only book in the whole Dutch language area with
all, more than 900 messages up to and including April 25th 1991.
(René Laurentin), 218 pages.
At publisher Tabor in Brugge (Belgium) have appeared i.a.:
- Medjugorje. Het verhaal en de boodschap van de verschijningen
(Medjugorje. The story and the message of the apparitions)
(René Laurentin), 184 pages.
- Ik zie Maria. Vraaggesprekken met de zieneres Vicka
(I see Mary. Interviews with the visionary
Vicka) (Janko Bubalo), 224 pages.
- Medjugorje. De oorlog dag na
dag (Zr. Emmanuel) (Medjugorje. The war day after
day (Sr. Emmanuel)), 194 pages.
PERIODICALS ON MEDJUGORJE
- Koningin van de
Vrede (Queen of Peace).
Bimonthly free magazine of the "Vrienden van
Medjugorje", Hasseltsestraat 39, 3700 Tongeren (Belgium).
In Holland one can subscribe at "Stichting
Vriendenkring Medjugorje-Nederland", De Bilt. - Echo uit
Medjugorje (Echo from Medjugorje). One can subscribe to this
free monthly magazine at the "Nederlands-Belgisch
Medjugorje-Comité",
Misericordeplein 12C, 6211 XK Maastricht (Netherlands).
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