Medjugorje 

Two girls, Ivanka aged 15, and 16 year-old Mirjana were returning home from a walk at about 5 o'clock that afternoon. Ivanka saw a figure of a woman, bathed in light, floating above the ground. She called out to Mirjana that she could see the Madonna. Two other young friends, Ivan and Vicka, joined Ivanka and Mirjana. The following day their friends Marija and Jacov came too. Thereafter all six began to see the Gospa (Madonna) at the same time every day. Many visitors have also seen strange flashes of light and fire on the mountain. At the outset the apparitions lasted 30 minutes or more, but now are usually three or four minutes duration. They take place at 5.40pm (GMT) every evening.

As news of these extraordinary events in Medjugorje spread, the Communist Government reacted with repression. Police and troops were sent to the village, the visionaries were detained for psychiatric examination and the village people harassed. The parish priest at the time, Fr. Jozo Zovko, a Franciscan, was arrested by the secred police and imprisoned for 18 months. But throughout that troubled period the Virgin continued to appear to the visionaries daily without fail. The authorities ceased harassment, and with the changes of regime, visitors were welcomed.

The Virgin explained to the children "I have come to tell the world that God exists and that He loves you. He is the fulness of life, and to enjoy this fullness and obtain peace, you must return to God." Mary presents herself as both a servant and messenger of God. The message she brings does not convey new teachings, but echoes the Gospels and teachings of the Church. The basic message of Medjugorje is Peace, through commitment to God, Reconciliation, Prayer and Fasting. What they see The visionaries are able to see and even touch the Virgin during the apparitions. They can converse with her, but are oblivious to noise, light, and pain - as numerous scientific tests have proved. Exhaustive psychiatric investigation has also shown them to be normal in every way. Mary stands a few feet away upon a small cloud. Her presence is preceded by a brilliant light. The visionaries describe her as beautiful beyond words, radiant with holiness. She looks no more than 19, with dark hair, and blue eyes. She usually wears a grey dress with a white veil down to her feet, and a crown of twelve stars. The conversations that the Virgin has with the visionaries express motherly tenderness and love, and she has assumed the role of both mother and teacher guiding them in prayer, and advising and directing them in their lives. Mary and the visionaries usually pray together during the apparition.