|
|
Recent Articles by Wayne Weible
We present some of the recent articles published in the Medjugorje monthly newsletter. The articles can be copied and reproduced without
written permission. Comments can be made through use of our Contact
Us page.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE: GOD’S GIFT OF NATURE
BY WAYNE WEIBLE
Finally, it’s here.
Spring. A time of
awakening as Our Lady of Medjugorje tells us with these words from
her monthly message of March 25, 1989:
See, children, how nature
is opening herself and is giving life and fruits. In the same way I
invite you to live with God and to surrender completely to him.
Spring is the time of new
life when the Blessed Virgin reminds us again in her recent message
of February 25 this year: In
this time of grace, when nature also prepares to give the most
beautiful colors of the year, I call you, little children, to open
your hearts to God the Creator for Him to transform and mould you in
His image, so that all the good which has fallen asleep in your
hearts may awaken to a new life and a longing towards eternity.
I thought of the words of
these messages earlier this month while horse riding with my wife
here in the Smoky
Mountains
straddling the state lines of
Georgia
and North Carolina
where I live. What a
beautiful place. This is Nature at its best.
There’s no better way to
appreciate the gift of Nature than on the back of a horse riding
narrow trails on a mountaintop. We ride frequently as we own three
horses. We also have three dogs and a cat – again a pure gift of
nature, these animals. Especially the dogs and horses. The Swiss
mystic Maria Simma reported in the book “Get Us Out Of Here!!” by
Nikki Eltz, that Satan hates dogs and horses the most because they
are so close to humans.
I can fully understand why
Satan would hate dogs and horses. They love us unconditionally just
as God loves us. They don’t care if you’re black or white, short or
tall, Republican or Democrat. They are simply the best part of
Nature for me.
This is the time to look
around and see the gifts and graces that God gives us. Whether it’s
the mountains or the ocean or the vast openness of fields and
deserts, we are blessed with Nature. It is God revealed as much as
is humanly possible.
There’s another place that
inspires with the just-right mixture of Nature and mysticism; that
place is Medjugorje. God comes through Mary to speak directly to us
in a tiny village in a remote country. He sends her to a rugged but
stunningly beautiful place in the mountains of Bosnia-Hercegovina.
We see His work in the beauty of the geography and we learn of His
reality through the appearance and words of a human mother.
Take a moment as spring
unfolds to thank the Creator for the gift of Nature.
The grace, peace and love
of Jesus be with you in this glorious time of renewal.
THE ILLUMINATION OF THE SOUL
- A MEDJUGORJE SECRET?
BY WAYNE WEIBLE, March 2010.
During the season of Lent, a time to renew our
spiritual life and to offer up gifts of love to our God, there is no
better gift than to reflect on our souls as to where we presently
stand in the light of God's judgment. For surely, with so many
prophesized warnings given by saints, seers and prophets throughout
the ages of an exact time when every living being will see their
souls exactly as God sees it-that is, all the good and all the bad
accumulated in a lifetime up to that point-it will occur.
According to many related and recorded near-death
experiences, this same grace happens at the moment of death or
near-death; and, for those of us alive at the time when it occurs
throughout the world to every living being, it will come without
warning and we will experience the exact same grace. The difference
is, we will have full, undeniable knowledge of the reality of God,
and the free will choice to do something about it.
This holy grace of revelation as to where we
stand in the judgment of God has generally been called "The Warning"
or "The Illumination of the soul." Whatever one wishes to call it,
it only makes sense that it is also one of the ten secrets the
Blessed Virgin Mary has given to the visionaries of Medjugorje. It
can be further stated that it is conceivably one of the three
warnings that will be given at Medjugorje after the apparitions
cease to occur, to let the world know that this event is from God
and that He is real. The first three secrets are in fact the
warnings. Since it has been revealed by way of personal messages
received by the visionaries in the early days of the apparitions
what two of the warnings are-even if purposely ambiguous-this could
conceivably be the other.
The Illumination of the Soul will be like a
spiritual x-ray that will reveal to each individual which path they
are on: the path to damnation or the path to salvation. Man-kind
will then have the free will to decide to follow the path to God or
the path to Satan. Sadly, as the Blessed Virgin Mary has stated in
her messages to various seers, some will still follow the path to
damnation, even though they will know without doubt that God exists
and that He loves every creature.
The credibility of the Illumination of the Soul
(or The Warning) comes from a number of supernatural events. It was
foretold to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830 (at Rue du BAC in Paris,
France place of the Miraculous medal), to St. Faustina Kowalska in
the 1930s (Divine Mercy Kracow, Poland), and to the four young seers
of Garabandal, Spain, to whom Our Lady appeared many times from
1961-1965. Other visionaries have since spoken of it and there is
general agreement that, as a result of this happening, millions of
sinners will repent and be restored to grace. With the nearly 29
years of daily apparitions at Medjugorje and the thousands of
messages of calling for repentance now, the battle lines between
good and evil are more clearly drawn than ever before.
According to the visionaries of Garabandal,
within one year of the Warning, or Illumination, a great miracle
will occur in the skies over Garabandal involving a sign that they
say can be seen and photographed but cannot be touched. The same has
been related by the visionaries of Medjugorje. A permanent sign is
to be left on Podbrdo Hill (Apparition Hill as we call it) where the
apparitions of Medjugorje began. As at Garabandal, it can not be
touched; does that mean it physically can not be touched or that it
is forbidden to be touched? We do not know.
This permanent sign, they say, is the
third warning, or the
third secret of Medjugorje. They go a step further to report that
the Virgin stated that the
first warning, or secret, will be a great upheaval somewhere in
the world. Again, there is no revelation as to whether it will be
geographic, political or something else. Regardless, if a soul is
not converted to God by this time, it will be too late.
With such knowledge given and verified so many
times, our reaction based on faith and the confirmation of
Medjugorje's messages, should be one of repentance. Repentance
loosely defined is acknowledgment of not following the way of God as
best we can. It can be interchanged with the words contriteness,
regret and remorse.
Thus, Lent is our time to closely reflect as to
where we stand with God now, not waiting for that fearsome event of
Illumination of the soul; and then, of course, to do something about
it.
According to a wide number of souls who have
experienced near-death and have come so close to actual death, what
they saw in their own judgments was so many little slights to others
by word, thought and deed. These acts toward others appear to have
great weight. Some of what we might consider to be the most trivial
of things. As one woman who experienced near-death put it, she saw
how every nice word or action created light that circled the world
while each negative one did the opposite.
A great Catholic theologian named Father Reginald
Garrigou-Lagrange once wrote that "at the moment of separation the
soul knows itself without medium, on all its merits and demerits. It
sees its state without possibility of error, sees all that it has
thought, desired, said, and done, both in good and evil." The entire
past, he said, is seen "in a glance." That is precisely what those
who have been declared dead but then miraculously revived have
reported.
As Our Lady has said so many times in her
messages to us through Medjugorje, don't wait for the secrets before
deciding to change and follow God. Do it now.
Lent is the time to begin the change.
May the peace, grace and love of Jesus be with each of
us.
CARDINAL’S COMMENTS
CLARIFY STANCE OF THE CHURCH ON MEDJUGORJE, GIVE HOPE TO
FOLLOWERS
BY
WAYNE WEIBLE
"Who could make these things up? Who could invent this thing? Man?
No, this is not a human act."
The above quote comes from a very distinguished visitor to
Medjugorje during the days just before and after Christmas, 2009.
This quote and others by the same individual have caused shock to
all who are involved and interested in the phenomena of the 28-plus
years of daily apparitions by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the little
mountain village of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Austrian Cardinal Christoph Maria von Schönborn of
Vienna, is the author of these comments. They
were made during his lengthy visit to the village during the
Christmas celebration. They have brought unbridled joy to supporters
and believers, and angry consternation to opponents and skeptics.
More importantly, Cardinal Schönborn’s informal comments given to
visionary Marija and others as well as prepared statements delivered
during his homilies as he served as celebrant of the Christmas Eve
Mass and New Year’s Day Mass, gives
total clarification to the
stance of the Church concerning the authenticity of the Medjugorje
apparitions. That stance is based on a ruling by a committee of
Yugoslavian bishops in 1991, which declared the apparitions to be
non
constat de supernaturalitatae, meaning that thus
far, the supernaturality of the events has not been confirmed. No
one knows what the final decision will be. But instead of being a
rejection, said the eminent cardinal, this leaves open the
possibility that it is indeed a supernatural event. Going beyond
possibility, there is little doubt after these statements that
Cardinal Schönborn personally believes that the Mother of God is
indeed appearing in Medjugorje.
The cardinal also reiterated the
Vatican’s ruling that said pilgrims
and priests are allowed to go as long as such a pilgrimage is not an
official parish event. This flew directly in the face of those who
have long argued that the local bishop -- who vehemently disapproves
and does not believe in the apparitions -- has sole authority, and
that pilgrimages are prohibited.
And of course, Mostar Bishop Ratko Peric reacted. He stated he was
"surprised" by the visit and then issued this statement: "As the
diocesan bishop, with this statement I want to inform the faithful
that the visit of Cardinal Christoph
Schönborn
does not imply any recognition of the authenticity of the
'apparitions' related to Medjugorje. I regret that the Cardinal,
with his visit, appearance, and statements, brings something new to
the present suffering of the local Church which does not contribute
to peace and unity so necessary."
Although no longer in charge of discernment as far as the
authenticity of the apparitions are concerned (an unprecedented move
made by the Vatican more than 20 years ago, taking authority away
from the local Mostar bishop, Pavao Zanic, due to bias in his
reported investigation and consequent written report on the
authenticity of the apparitions) the bishop retains authority over
sacramental practices in Medjugorje and should be respected in this
role. While we do respect his office, we regret that he has used
that power of late to restrict the activities of pilgrims and seers.
The long and the short of it all is this: while Cardinal Schönborn’s
visit to Medjugorje does not give it formal acceptance—an act that
can only come from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at
the Vatican—it does give an enormous boost to those of us who are
firm believers. We can go so far as to say it gives
informal
acceptance by the very act of
such a powerful cardinal coming there to see for himself. Likewise,
it delivers a telling blow to the skeptics of the apparitions,
especially Bishop Peric.The Cardinal’s presence there is about as
close a vote of confidence that we can receive at this time. It is,
in my opinion, a pure gift of grace from the Blessed Virgin, giving
all that we need to continue not only our belief but our efforts to
live the messages she is giving us.
The statements and comments are especially powerful in that Cardinal
Schönborn is known as a close friend and colleague of Pope Benedict
XVI. He is a prominent voice in a wide variety of contemporary
discussions within the Church, and (though he himself avoids this
characterization) he is considered by many as 'papabile,' that is,
as a prelate with a significant chance of someday being elected
Pope, according to a web site that follows his movements. As good
friend Michael Brown, prominent author and founder of the web site
Spiritdaily.com said in a recent story, “It seems unlikely that a
close friend of the pontiff would travel to Medjugorje without tacit
approval from the Vatican.” Was it
perhaps even the "statement" or "guideline" many of us have been
expecting?
Here are some other quotes of Cardinal Schönborn made during his
Medjugorje visit and during this past year:
"when I see the fruits of Medjugorje back at home I can only say
that the tree is surely good."
“Medjugorje (is) a "superpower" of God's mercy.”
"Supreme authority in the Church is the Holy See, the Holy Father
and his Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and that is the
highest authority in all of the issues of faith and morality."
(Dismissing the notion that the local bishop has ultimate say over
Medjugorje)
"I am fascinated with the coherence of Medjugorje with other Marian
shrines, apparition sides. I always say that there is a grammar of
Mary’s apparitions. That style has something special with Our Lady.
Mary wants to be close to us."
“When you look at a place
like Medjugorje, you can see a superpower of mercy. Many merciful
deeds were born here or they were supported here.'"
"We cannot deny that pilgrims have been coming over here for the
past twenty years, as we can not deny what they experience in
Medjugorje and how close they felt to the Blessed Mother. This is my
first visit, but since I’ve been a Bishop from 1991, I have simply
noticed the fruits of Medjugorje."
Besides the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinal Schönborn has "curial
membership" in the congregations for the Oriental Churches
and Catholic Education. He is a member of the pontifical Council on
Culture, the commission on the Cultural Heritage of the Church, as
well as the Special Council for Europe
of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. The cardinal is
also Ordinary for the faithful of the Byzantine Rite in
Austria.
We conclude with a closing statement from Cardinal Schönborn:
"I would advise for patience.
The Mother of God is so patient with us that for nearly 29 years
here, in a very direct way, she is showing her closeness and care
for the parish of Medjugorje and numerous pilgrims. We can
peacefully wait and have patience! Twenty nine years is a long
period of time for us, but not such a long period to our God!"
May the peace, grace and love of Jesus be with all of us in this New
Year of hope.
BREAKING NEWS – CARDINAL DEFENDS VISIT TO SITE
In a release dated January 6,2010, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has
defended his decision to visit Medjugorje after he was criticised by
the local bishop. The Archbishop of Vienna said that his visit to
the Bosnian town was an attempt to "de-dramatise" the "Medjugorje
phenomenon".
Cardinal Schönborn said the unusual goings-on in Medjugorje - the
alleged Marian apparitions which were first reported in the 1980s -
had taken a secondary place in Medjugorje, which he described as "a
school of normal Christian life".
He said: "[Medjugorje] is about faith in Christ, prayer, the
Eucharist, about lived love of neighbour, about the essentials of
Christianity and the strengthening of Christian daily life." The
cardinal, who leads the Austrian bishops' conference and is a member
of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said he did not
intend to make a decision ahead of the universal Church and make a
pronouncement on the supernatural aspects of the reported Marian
apparitions in Medjugorje.
November Newsletter Column
What’s next for Medjugorje?
By Wayne
Weible
With less than two months left in the
year, one can only speculate what is next for Medjugorje
after six months of blistering attacks by Ratko Peric,
bishop of the Duvno-Mostar diocese in
Bosnia-Hercegovina. It is under his jurisdiction that
the Medjugorje parish of Saint James falls. Will he
continue his assault to invalidate the alleged
apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary taking place in
the little village reportedly occurring daily for 28
years and nearly four months?
Based on a continual attack by the
bishop to discredit the apparitions from the original
claims of the six visionaries, we can almost assuredly
count on it. It will continue despite a direct quote
during a recent public interview by Cardinal Vinko
Puljic, archbishop of Sarajevo, reported in my column in October
that he thinks a statement will come from the Vatican concerning the status of the
apparitions before the end of the year.
A Vatican
statement on the authenticity of the Medjugorje
apparitions will not change the facts, despite a
possible negative account. So much good fruit directly
attributed to the apparitions cannot be changed.
Positive comments made from an unofficial position by
our late, beloved Pope John Paul II, his private
meetings with some of the visionaries and his constant
urging of bishops and priest to go there and see for
themselves stand as hard evidence of his personal belief
that the Mother of God is appearing there. Hundreds of
callings to a religious vocation by men and women who
have gone there on pilgrimage will not change.
It comes down to the realization and
acceptance by those of us who have been spiritually
changed by the messages and events of the apparitions:
we are expected to be obedient to the position of the
Church when so issued, regardless of a positive or
negative ruling. Without obedience, we have no real
faith.
Should we not expect the same from
Bishop Peric, who stands as leader and example for other
priests and bishops as well as the faithful?
Some years back in the beginning
years of the apparitions at Medjugorje, there were
reports that visionary Vicka Ivankovic had made a
statement that the purported 10 secrets of future events
given to each visionary over a period of time would
start when belief in the apparitions seemed to be almost
to the point of extinction. Frankly, we are close to
that point thanks to the relentless efforts of a church
bishop who has allowed personal bias to interfere with
ecclesiastical responsibility. Not once in the 28-plus
years of the alleged apparitions has he objectively
investigated the event. Instead, he has been driven by
long-standing divisions between the Franciscan order of
priests in the region and the secular priests, of which
he is a member.
Here is a final thought on the matter
of Church approval of the Medjugorje apparitions: It is
hard to perceive that the incredibly good fruits of 28
years of daily appearances by the Blessed Virgin Mary
will be ignored or allowed to go to waste by Heaven or
its church on earth. She has not come for this long a
time to be undone by the petty jealousies between her
beloved sons of the priesthood or the humanist interests
of the great unwashed public.
A look back to
August 2, 1981, in Medjugorje gives a clue as
to the final outcome of the ongoing apparitions. No one
at that time thought they would have continued for such
a stretch of time. It was a time when the predecessor of
Bishop Peric, Pavao Zanic strongly believed that the
Mother of Jesus was appearing to the six Croatian
teenagers. He had even made the claim that “these
children are incapable of lying,” a comment ironically
made at Confirmation services just the month prior.
On this day, the feast day of Our
Lady of the Angels, the Blessed Virgin had appeared to
visionary Marija Pavlovic a second time that day. She
was back in her bedroom changing into a pair of jeans
before joining a gathering of many young people who
wanted to extend the day with prayers and singing in the
fields. The Virgin appeared to her quite somber and told
her that Satan was there trying to take this away from
them. She then added: “I do not know how all of this
will turn out.”
Clearly, the interpretation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary’s words to Marija is that without
our positive response through prayer, fasting and
penance, the apparitions will not succeed.
The affect of the 28 years of daily
apparitions at Medjugorje is clearly based on how well
the believers, the children of God of all faiths have
reacted to her messages which confirm the teachings of
Christ. The question now is will we return to the ways
of God and put Him in the first place of our lives? Or,
will we allow our human weakness to lead us into apathy
as the apparitions fade into oblivion.
The peace, grace and love of Jesus be
with you.
FATHER JOZO ZOVKO ON SABBATICAL
By Wayne Weible
What is a pilgrimage to Medjugorje without traveling to the
town of Siroki Brijeg to see and listen to popular charismatic Franciscan priest Father Jozo Zovko? Although still filled with grace and
wonderment, a trip to the holy site without the participation of Fr. Jozo will be a noticeable loss of some of that grace. Unfortunately,
the hard, cold truth is that for the next year he will be on a sabbatical outside of the Franciscan province, probably in Italy, for a
period of at least a year.
According to the office at Siroki Brijeg where Father Jozo
is stationed, he is not in the best of health and is in a chronic state of fatigue from the grueling pace he has maintained for years
without taking time off to recuperate and recharge. This is a much-needed break but he will be greatly missed.
A pilgrimage to Medjugorje is simply not complete without a
trip to see and hear Fr. Jozo speak. He is a widely acknowledged “prophet” of our times and his talks spare no one when it comes to
literally living the messages given us at Medjugorje.
I noticed during the last two pilgrimages to Medjugorje in
2008 that Fr. Jozo did not look well; he appeared tired but nevertheless, his talks were the same fiery oracles for which he is famous.
Personally I am glad for him to have the opportunity to rest, although I am sure he was reluctant to suspend his mission of evangelization
of the Medjugorje message.
Father Jozo was the parish priest at Medjugorje when the
apparitions began in June 1981. He was actually away from the parish on the day Our Lady first appeared and learned what was happening at
home two days later by a parishioner who saw him at the hospital in Mostar where he was visiting a relative before returning to the
parish.
Once home and learning of the events from his fellow
Franciscans, Father Jozo was skeptical and reserved his judgment on the authenticity of the apparitions. In fact, many of the local
Franciscans had doubts about the claims of the teenagers who said they were seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary each evening. One priest went
so far as to recommend exorcism.
Father Jozo immediately called the young visionaries
together and grilled them unmercifully as a group and individually. His attitude abruptly changed several days into the apparitions when a
startling incident occurred.
It seemed to Father Jozo that the entire village and many
from surrounding communities were going to Podbrdo Hill every evening at the time of the apparition; no one was coming to the church for
prayer or council or confession. Frustrated, Father Jozo called the parish together for a special meeting in which he lectured them about
chasing the sensational rather than coming to the church for prayer and confession. He then asked the gathering to pray with him for
discernment, turning to face the altar as he led them in a long prayer. At the end of the prayer he turned around and was shocked to see
that most of the people had left the church to go to the hill for the apparition!
The following day, Fr. Jozo was fervently praying in the
front pew of the church, asking God for some sign of what to do about the claimed apparitions. It was then, he reported later, that he
heard a deep male voice telling him to “First go out and protect the children.”
Startled, Fr. Jozo hastily went to the rear of the church
and was immediately surrounded by the young visionaries as he opened the door. “Protect us, they are after us,” the children shouted to
him.
Father Jozo took them to the rectory and placed them in a
small bedroom just inside the doors, a room that later would become the “Apparition Room” Where the visionaries met the Blessed Virgin
Mary each evening. After securing the children, Father Jozo went back outside to be immediately confronted by the local police. “Quick,
tell us, have you seen those children?” they demanded of the priest. Fr. Jozo frowned and looking straight at them answered, “Yes.”
Inexplicably, the police suddenly turned and ran toward the fields.
As he reentered the rectory and went into the bedroom where
the visionaries had been placed, Father José suddenly saw the Blessed Virgin along with the visionaries as they were experiencing an
apparition. He would no longer doubt; instead, he became the visionaries’ staunchest supporter, later placed in jail for 18 months for
refusing to shut down the church and bring the apparitions to an end.
I have personally witnessed many times Father Jozo shedding
tears in telling the story of his seeing Our Lady on that day. As we would confess often in recounting it, he had to see to believe. But
like other doubters—such as the disciple Thomas—he would in turn become a champion of the message.
We will miss you, Father Jozo. Get well. In the meantime,
let us all pray for his full recovery and return to his mission.
Visionary Mirjana’s monthly apparitions no longer allowed
at Cenacolo
Another major change occurred at Medjugorje last month.
Visionary Mirjana who receives an apparition on the second day of each month, an unprecedented event that has occurred since March 1987,
will no longer be allowed to have the apparition at the Cenacolo Rehabilitation Center.
The Center has served as the site for the apparitions for
many years because of its capacity to hold the thousands of pilgrims who come to be present for the event. Bishop Ratko Peric asked
founder of the Center Sister Elvira not to allow the apparitions to continue on the property. No reason was given. But as has happened so
often in past years, the bishop has disrupted the apparitions by refusing to allow them to take place on church property. While it could
be argued that the Center is not specifically church property, Sister Elvira, sadly but humbly, agreed to honor the bishop’s request.
Again, like the loss of Father Jozo’s talks for a year, this
is an unexpected change in the status of the apparitions at Medjugorje. But also like Father Jozo, there is a lesson to be learned in this
incident. That lesson is obedience.
THE MEDJUGORJE TIMELINE:
WHERE ARE WE?
By Wayne Weible
March, 2009
It’s the million-dollar question: where are we in the Medjugorje timeline?
Are the active apparitions nearly over?
How soon will the “secrets” of Medjugorje begin to unfold?
How much time will people have to convert once they start happening?
All of the above are legitimate questions considering that the apparitions have been occurring daily since June 24, 1981.
The primary question, however, is not where are we in the Medjugorje timeline but—are we ready spiritually for its conclusion?
Let’s do a quick recount of where we are in the assumed timeline. Mirjana was the first to receive the 10 secrets and thus, discontinue
having daily apparitions as was prearranged by the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady announced to Mirjana on December 24, 1982, that "On
Christmas I will appear to you for the last time."
After this apparition, it was apparent that Mirjana was very sad. She was given the tenth secret, a particularly grave one. Our Lady
promised to appear to her on her birthday, March 18, for the rest of her life (Mirjana would later revel to me directly in an interview
that her birthday was not the reason for the date chosen, but that it would be revealed as to why this date when it was about to occur).
Then, on March 2, 1987, Mirjana began having visits from the Mother of Jesus, first by locution, then by apparition. These resumed
apparitions are for the unbelievers according to Mirjana. She has reported that the second day of the month apparitions have continued,
the latest being February 2, 2009 (see message in this issue of the newsletter). They have become a major focal point for followers.
On the anniversary of June 25, 1983, Ivanka received the tenth secret, followed five years later by Jakov on September 12, 1998. Today,
three visionaries, Maria, Vicka and Ivan continue to have daily apparitions, each of them having received nine of the ten secrets. Maria
receives the monthly message and is the only one of the remaining visionaries who does (see monthly message for January 25, 2009 in this
issue). Vicka was the last of the active visionaries to receive the ninth secret and that was in April 1987.
As can be seen by the fact that Vicka received the ninth secret in 1987, there are no obvious clues as to where the timeline is now. The
only indicator is the tone of the messages by Our Lady and they have become noticeably blunt and direct, leading many to assume that the
end of the active apparitions is near. However, God’s “near” is not the same as ours!
We can reflect back to a particular incident that took place in 1983, when the visionaries’ spiritual director Fr. Tomislav Vlasic, was
asked by visionary Mirjana to write a letter to the Pope. The information Mirjana gave to Father Tomislav on November 5, 1983 was conveyed
by letter to Pope John Paul II on December 16, 1983. Father Vlasic's letter was published in "Is the Virgin Mary appearing at Medjugorje?"
(Paris, 1984), with this introduction:
During the apparition of December 25, 1982, according to Mirjana, the Madonna confided to her the tenth and last secret, and revealed to
her, the dates in which the different secrets will be realized. The Blessed Virgin revealed to Mirjana some aspects of the future, up to
this point, in greater detail than to the other seers. For this reason, I am reporting here what Mirjana told me in a conversation of
November 5, 1983. I summarized the essentials of her account, without literal quotation.
Mirjana told me: Before the visible sign is given to mankind, there will be three warnings to the world. The warnings will be in the form
of events on earth. Mirjana will be a witness to them. Ten days before one of the admonitions, Mirjana will notify a priest of her choice.
The witness of Mirjana will be a confirmation of the apparitions and a stimulus for the conversion of the world. After the admonitions,
the visible sign will appear on the site of the apparitions in Medjugorje, for all the world to see.
The sign will be given as a testimony to the apparitions and in order to call people back to faith. The ninth and tenth secrets are
serious. They concern chastisement for the sins of the world. Punishment is inevitable, for we cannot expect the whole world to be
converted.
The punishment can be diminished by prayer and penance, but it cannot be eliminated. 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 wars and suspend the laws of
nature."
After the first admonition, the others will follow in a rather short time. Thus, people will have some time for conversion. That interval
will be a period of grace and conversion. After the visible sign appears, those who are still alive will have little time for conversion.
For that reason, the Blessed Virgin invites us to urgent conversion and reconciliation. The invitation to prayer and penance is meant to
avert evil and war, but most of all to save souls.
According to Mirjana, the events predicted by the Blessed Virgin are near. By virtue of this experience, Mirjana proclaims to the world:
'Convert as quickly as possible. Open your hearts to God.' In addition to this basic message, Mirjana related an apparition she has in
1982 which we believe sheds some light on aspects of Church history. She spoke of an apparition in which Satan appeared to her. Satan
asked Mirjana to renounce the Madonna and follow him. That way she could be happy in love and in life. He said that following the Virgin,
on the contrary, would only lead to suffering. Mirjana rejected him, and immediately the Virgin gave her the following message, in
substance: "Excuse me for this, but you must realize that Satan exists. One day he appeared before the throne of God and asked permission
to submit the Church to a period of trial. God gave him permission to try the Church for one century.
This century is under the power of the Devil, but when the secrets confided to you come to pass, his power will be destroyed. Even now he
is beginning to lose his power and has become aggressive. He is destroying marriages, creating division among priests and is responsible
for obsessions and murder. You must protect yourselves against these things through fasting and prayer, especially community prayer. Carry
blessed objects with you. Put them in your house, and restore the use of holy water."
Back to the original question: where are we in the Medjugorje timeline? Based on the signs of the times at present, we can simply say, we
are close. But again, God’s close is not our close. Common sense tells us that the apparitions can not continue much longer. One year? One
month? One week? Only God knows.
Our major concern should be where we are on the path to spiritual holiness. It is the only timeline that is personally relevant. We need
to listen and to act as Our Lady asks us. We need to pay attention to her words given us each month through the monthly messages and the
messages of the second day of each month.
So, where are we on the timeline of Medjugorje? Exactly where we should be according to God’s plan!
Discernment of Medjugorje Apparitions
Now in Direct Control of Vatican
By Wayne Weible
April, 2008
Word long awaited by followers of the Medjugorje apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary has now been confirmed:
The apparitions will not be accepted or rejected by local or regional Church officials until they are directed how and when to do so by
Rome, Vatican officials now report.
This is, in my opinion, the most significant development in the nearly 27 years of daily apparitions since its onset.
I commend the decision of the official Church that confirms the “unofficial” interest and affection in the apparitions by the late beloved
Pope John Paul II, who now surely prays for the truth of the Holy Spirit to surface completely concerning this incredible event.
As Michael Brown, noted author and founder of the web site Spirit Daily on the site on April 9, 2008, “It came as a complete surprise and
we have now confirmed it. It is nearly as if the hand of John Paul II himself is in it. Or is it simply that Benedict XVI is a bit more
mystical than many perceived?”
Brown’s article went on to state, “It is true, we are now told authoritatively. ‘I can confirm it,’ states Monsignor Mato Zovkic, vicar
general of the Sarajevo archdiocese.”
The article went on to state that Monsignor Zovkic, who is spokesman for the Cardinal of Sarajevo and who previously indicated negative
feelings about the the Medjugorje apparitions, now tells Spirit Daily “the situation is that people keep coming to Medjugorje, they feel
something nice, and they are reconciled sacramentally. The Vatican seems to be very interested and so this should be respected.”
Headed by Cardinal Vinko Puljić, the national commission based in Sarajevo was formed after the Vatican took away the authority of
discernment from the local bishop, who usually rules on such matters. Now the national commission has also been subjected to higher Church
authorities.
The vicar emphasized that the national commission no longer plans to take action until it hears direct instructions from the Vatican.
“This is our viewpoint,” said Zovkic, who is also a professor at the seminary in Sarajevo.
This is a major change from its previous position, which was that the commission would make a determination after the apparitions stopped.
“As things are now, yes,” the commission will wait for the Vatican, he repeated.
Brown points out that this is no minor statement. For years, many have been under the misconception that the claims at Medjugorje are
under the authority of the bishop in Mostar—whose diocese includes Medjugorje and who has been strongly negative, even seeking to condemn
it. The matter long ago was taken out of those hands, however, and given to a national commission headed by Cardinal Puljić.
Here is more from Michael Brown’s article on Spirit Daily posted on April 3:
Now, it will go even higher—indicating, perhaps, that Rome believes Medjugorje exceeds not just local but also regional discernment.
The original decision to revoke the authority of Mostar was likewise taken under the direction of Pope Benedict when he was Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger.
A Bible scholar, Monsignor Zovkic said he plans to hold special meetings in Medjugorje on May 7, along with a moral theologian and a canon
lawyer. The goal, he said, is to review how priests should conduct themselves during the sacraments, especially Confession—which is
unusually intense at the apparition site, with booths set up for more than a dozen languages and long lines of pilgrims seeking
reconciliation. The authority of local ecclesiastic officials has thus shifted from discernment of the apparitions to sacramental and
liturgical administration.
Monsignor Zovkic—who himself previously had expressed misgiving about the site—said that “I am looking forward to seeing Medjugorje.” He
alluded to recent statements by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone—the current secretary of state at the Vatican and as such second only to the
Pope—to the effect that the matter necessitated re-examination.
The new statements in one fell swoop erase objections by those who have long asserted that Medjugorje was rejected or condemned because
local bishops in Mostar have been unfavorable. Complicated and even tortured arguments that the site had been rejected can be immediately
set aside, pending word from Rome itself.
Long considered a rigid intellectual—and feared by those who believed he would quash private revelations—Pope Benedict XVI has thus far
taken no such action and instead has hinted at the deep mystical influence of his predecessor.
In recalling John Paul II at a memorial Mass last week, in fact, he mentioned the “supernatural” nature of that pontiff (“Among many human
and supernatural qualities, he had an exceptional spiritual and mystical sensibility,” intoned the Pope), as did John Paul’s former aide,
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Archbishop of Krakow, who cited numerous miraculous cures attributed to the Pope and said that “I accompanied
him for almost forty years, now he is accompanying me — and whenever I have a problem I turn to him.”
The question was whether that spirit was also influencing the official take on Medjugorje—which was dear to John Paul II’s heart (and in
danger of condemnation).
In Vecernji List, when asked if the Bishops Conference for Bosnia-Hercegovina was going to re-examine Medjugorje—in light of statements by
Cardinal Bertone that such was in order, Cardinal Puljić, as archbishop of Sarajevo, was quoted as saying:
“Our conference has not discussed this matter, because the phenomenon of Medjugorje does not come within our competence. At the moment
when the Holy See takes the decision and gives a task, we shall think about what to do. This is why it is not necessary to speculate,
unless concrete instructions come. After the work of the commission, the [conference] has already decided to accompany the phenomenon
pastorally. This is nothing new, but the implementation of the first decision of the conference about the phenomenon Medjugorje.”
It was as remarkable as it was startling because the cardinal who was in charge of the discernment was now stating that he was no longer
in charge, and neither was the national conference—unless the Vatican asked.
That was a turnaround from statements made at the Cardinal’s chancery several years ago, when his vicar general told Spirit Dailythe
matter was in the hands of the national commission—headed by Cardinal Puljic—and would not be decided until the apparitions conclude.
At the time, Father Zovkic had intimated that the cardinal was leaning against the apparitions, as had the Bishop of Mostar, Ratko Peric
(and his predecessor, Pavao Zanic), whose authority to rule on the site was removed in 1986 by then-Cardinal Ratzinger.
Such was long thought to have been done at the behest of John Paul II.
Private letters between the late Pope John Paul II and a couple in Krakow, Poland, have confirmed in writing that the late pontiff had a
positive view of Medjugorje and even a daily devotion attached to the site of apparitions in Bosnia-Hercegovina. He met at least two of
the seers, including Mirjana Soldo.
The letters, dated March 30, 1991, May 28, 1992, December 8, 1992, and February 25, 1994, and addressed to Zofia and Marek (“Z. M.”)
Skwarniccy, make several references to Medjugorje (in Polish, “Medziugorje”) by name.
“And let everything be well on the journey to Medjugorje-Rome,” John Paul II had written. “I thank Zofia for everything that regards
Medjugorje,” the Pope apparently wrote. “I am also going there every day in prayer: I join everyone who is praying there or who derives
the call to prayer from there. Today we have understood this call better.”
Similar indications have been given by bishops who have said the late Pope expressed a highly favorable view in private conversation—but
did not want to offend the Mostar chancery. Many have compared Medjugorje to historic apparitions such as those at Fatima and Lourdes. It
has drawn millions of pilgrims, tens of thousands of priests, and hundreds of bishops and cardinals from around the world. It is regularly
quietly monitored by officials from the Vatican.
But no one knew what Cardinal Ratzinger—now Pope Benedict—himself thought, with contradicting indications. On the one hand, it was he who
rejected the document by Mostar which would have condemned Medjugorje, and the current Pope also who, in a book called The Ratzinger
Report, when asked about Medjugorje, dodged a direct answer by saying that in general the multiplication of alleged apparitions seemed
like a “sign of the times.” On the other hand, there were reports that he too had misgivings over the conduct of certain parties in
Medjugorje.
But it appears that once more Pope Benedict may have stepped in to prevent an unfavorable ruling. Three of the four members of the
national commission—which includes the bishop of Mostar—seemed poised to issue a negative discernment when the time came.
Has that now been permanently changed, or only for the time being? Has the Vatican decided that Medjugorje is too large and global for the
discernment of so few—in a region where there is great ethnic and religious antagonism (including between Franciscans and secular
dioceses)?
Such action—like the 1986 removal of Mostar’s authority—would be unprecedented. However, so is the reach of Medjugorje, which continues to
break records as pilgrims fill to overflowing the Franciscan church.
Several years ago a report claimed that Cardinal Puljić had publicly complained at the Synod of Bishops that Medjugorje had created
division between the secular diocese and Franciscans (due to a controversy back in the 1980s with two Franciscans) and referred to
“pseudo-charisms.” There are only four members of the conference: Cardinal Puljić; his auxiliary bishop; the Bishop of Banja-Luka; and
Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar—who oversees the actual diocese to which Medjugorje belongs and who has been strongly opposed to Medjugorje.
Ironically, the latest issue arose right at the anniversary of John Paul II’s death and at a time when Dziwisz had added, according to
another newspaper, that John Paul and Benedict were “true friends” and recalled anecdotes from his decades with John Paul, describing, for
example, how the pontiff used to bless the city of Rome before going to sleep.
With the latest report, it seems that the late pontiff is also blessing Medjugorje.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, who have faithfully followed the apparitions, let us rejoice in prayer and fasting and penance,
that the Church will find what we have during these past 26-plus years. And that is that the good spiritual fruits of Medjugorje are proof
enough for those who believe.
RETURN TO THE "SECOND PROMISED LAND"
By Wayne Weible
March 2008
Let's talk politics.
I know, the old adage is you're not supposed to mix religion and politics and since this is a "religious" newsletter in that we are all
about spiritual apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Medjugorje, we shouldn't discuss political issues.
In my humble opinion, the premise of not mixing politics and religion is wrong and here's why: the people of today in what is probably the
greatest country in the history of the world, are so brain-washed with "political correctness" and its all-encompassing mantra of no God
in government, that we have transformed into a government of civic law devoid of meaningful personal compassion and moral base.
Without moral foundation, the business of politics falls under the same corrupt code that has blackened the history of government from its
early formation. It is a corruption run by the dark force of evil, using the familiar tools of power and greed. Can you see these elements
at work in modern-day United States politics? Can you see them in present-time presidential campaigning?
Let me state my point that I am sure will be perceived by liberal-leaning political types, so-called intellectuals and in general,
non-believers in God, as naive: the United States of America is in dire need of an urgent return to its spiritual roots as the Second
Promised Land. We cannot accomplish this return without the use of the tools of our founding fathers, and one in particular-George
Washington.
The tools are the same as those offered to us by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Medjugorje. We are to pray, fast and do penance. We are to put
God in the first place in our lives and let everything else be guided by Him though His moral code.
I have always thought of our country as the Second Promised Land. We are the ethnic and cultural melting pot of the world. We are Everyone
from Everywhere. A majority of our founding fathers were people of faith. The entire purpose of coming to the New World, was to have the
most basic freedom of being able to believe and worship God as the Creator of all.
It was to begin with the establishment of a government whose general code was to be based on the moral code of the Ten Commandments. Is
this the code seen and followed in our present, agonizingly long political campaign to elect candidates for the highest office of
government in the Second Promised Land? Suffice it to say, the answer is a resounding and embarrassing, no.
George Washington, first president of the United States, is the greatest example I can give as proof that this country was to be a special
promised land of freedom and goodness. Washington was a firm believer in the importance of religion for republican government. During his
speech in leaving the office as the first president, he remarked that it was "unrealistic to expect that a whole nation, whatever might be
said of minds of peculiar structure, could long be moral without religion, that national morality is necessary for good government, and
that politicians should cherish religion's support of national morality."
Often accused in writings and conversation of the times of having no real religious faith, Washington's adopted daughter, Nelly Custis-Lewis,
in response to a request for information on Washington's religions views, wrote, "He attended the church at Alexandria when the weather
and roads permitted a ride of ten miles (a one-way journey of 2-3 hours by horse or carriage). In New York and Philadelphia he never
omitted attendance at church in the morning, unless detained by indisposition [sickness]." She continues by saying "No one in church
attended to the services with more reverential respect." She adds: "I should have thought it the greatest heresy to doubt his firm belief
in Christianity. His life, his writings, prove that he was a Christian. He was not one of those who act or pray, that they may be seen of
men."
As if there is any doubt that politics must follow a code of morality, Washington, in his own words, wrote: "Of all the dispositions and
habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.
He continued: "In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness,
these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish
them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for
property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in
Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be
conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that
national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."My dear friends, America still has a chance. It has a chance to return
to the God-given responsibility as the Second Promised Land. The responsibility is ours in the powerful grace of being able to vote for
our leaders. The responsibility rests in answering the call of the Blessed Virgin Mary to make our choices for the things of God. The
singular question to be asked when deciding on a candidate is this: Is a candidate moral in all proposed promises as an elected official?
If there is anything other than morality based on God's laws in those promises, our responsibility is to say no to that candidate with our
vote.
One last thing. America is "Her's." this Second Promised Land is under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The very first bishop of
the United States, Bishop John Carroll, united Our Lady with the United States strengthening a "Sacred Bond." Bishop Carroll's
consecration of the United States, permanently entrusting the new nation to the Holy Virgin Mary, is well documented.
Here's an interesting sidebar; Bishop Carroll and George Washington knew each other well. It is reasonably accepted that George Washington
was most likely aware of the consecration of this land to the Blessed Virgin, and that he himself realized the consequences of such an
action. Washington was known for seeking out the thoughts of others, even receiving advice outside of his own thinking. It is thought that
he very probably spoke to Bishop Carroll about a spiritual experience he (Washington) had at Valley Forge.
Washington was in his darkest hour at Valley Forge. With his troops starving, wearing ragged clothing, freezing against the bitter cold,
he faced a situation that literally forced him on his knees in the snow. There is a famous painting that shows him kneeling down,
depicting the events that were witnessed by many of his men at a distance. He was imploring God's intervention and, at Valley Forge,
experienced a profound spiritual experience in answer to his prayers! Somewhere between December 18-23, 1777, George Washington had an
apparition of a woman who, by description of the apparition, was the Holy Virgin Mary.
America, the Second Promised Land!
WHAT'S BEST FOR US?
By Wayne Weible
January 2008
It's a new year and a time to renew or revive those things in life that matter to us most. We do it by way of making resolutions. We make
them and then within a matter of a few days, a month or so, they fade or fall away.
That's the way it is with most of us. We have good intentions, but - At the first Holy Mass of the year on New Year's Day, our priest
mentioned during his homily that the evening before, he was listening to the television national news somewhat abstractedly when he heard
some government official commenting on a recent political event. What caught his attention was the official's final comment: "We must do
what is best for us."
From that comment, our priest was able to build a very insightful homily, one that struck me as right on the mark.
In essence, our pastor pointed out that in today's contemporary world, we generally focus on what is best for us regardless of the
circumstances. Rather, he commented, we should be concerned for what is best for all of us. Thus, my New Year's resolution, rather than
worrying about personal things, is to concentrate on what is generally best for all concerned.
What is best for our world?
What is best for our country?
What is best for our community?
What is best for our neighborhood?
What is best for our families and for the individuals who compose it?
What is certainly best for all of the above mentioned is peace, a peace that passes all understanding. It is the peace of the Lord, Jesus
Christ. It is the heart and soul of the message of the Queen of Peace who comes to Medjugorje daily and continues through thousands of
encounters with the visionaries to urge us to do exactly what my very astute pastor pointed out in his New Year's Day homily.
Peace can only be achieved by individual effort. With all individuals thinking in terms of what is best for all, it happens. True peace
lies in love of God above all else, and love of neighbor as self. Any compromise or departure from this path does not serve God, mankind
or self.
Let this be the year that this particular resolution lasts beyond the norm.
COME TO OUR LADY!
By Wayne Weible
August 2007
During the first week of August in Medjugorje, as has been the case for the past 16 years, the International Youth Festival was held.
Young people from 58 countries were present and the little town was packed. It was a tremendous week with many young people going to
confession and learning of Our Lady's stay there over the last 26 years. It was a week of great conversion and new life for many youth.
Unfortunately, it was one of the few times in the past twelve months that the village has been filled with pilgrims. There is a marked
drop off in pilgrimages even though the Blessed Virgin Mary has come daily for these 26 years and two months and counting. There are
noticeable signs of lack of interest in the different countries in daily living of and spreading of the vital messages of peace. There are
very noticeable signs of lack of interest especially here in the United States.
Agencies that promote pilgrimages to Medjugorje are now few in number and shrinking. Far too many agencies are or were involved in
pilgrimages to Medjugorje simply for the commercial value. There is competition between companies as though this was just another
business. But it isn't; it is The Most Important Event Taking Place in the World Today!
The messages given to us through the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Medjugorje compose a pleading, urging, begging call for us
to come to conversion. She is asking us to come to her so that she can lead us in holiness, through prayer, fasting and penance. It is the
Final Harvest of souls.
I have always felt that the messages given to visionary Mirjana were far more blunt and direct in comparison to the monthly messages given
through Marija. Mirjana is the visionary that has been given the task of choosing the priest who will reveal the secrets one by one when
the Blessed Mother has made her last apparition to the final visionary. We don't k now when that is or who will be the last visionary of
Medjugorje. However, we can know the time table approximately by the tone of the messages. I could quote many of the past year's messages
to make the point, but instead will use the most recent: the messages given to Mirjana on the second day of each month; in fact, the past
two messages given on the second. It is all that is really needed as you might see.
First, listen to Our Lady's message to Mirjana on July 2, 2007: "Dear children! In the great love of God, I come to you today to lead you
on the way of humility and meekness. The first station on that way, my children, is confession. Reject your pride and kneel down before my
Son. Comprehend, my children, that you have nothing and you can do nothing. The only thing that is yours and what you possess is sin. Be
cleansed and accept meekness and humility. My Son could have won with strength, but He chose meekness, humility and love. Follow my Son
and give me your hand so that, together, we may climb the mountain and win. Thank you!"
This message I feel is directed not to the hard-hearted, not to the atheist or agnostic or unbeliever, but directly to those of us who
profess to be Christians and followers of the Medjugorje messages. Wake up, my children, she is saying to us, and do the things I have
asked of you during my time of apparition here. Don't wait for crisis, tragedy or trauma - come to me now in every way so that I can lead
you to my Son.
As if this message of July 2 is not direct enough, the Blessed Virgin follows it with an intense recourse directed specifically to the
unbeliever. That is to the unbeliever who is claimed believer but of a different faith; that is to the unbeliever who out of anger or
other issues totally rejects such grace; and, that is to the unbeliever who deliberately refuses to change his or her heart. To these
children she says on August 2, 2007: "Dear children! Today I look in your hearts and looking at them my Heart seizes with pain. My
children! I ask of you unconditional, pure love for God. You will know that you are on the right path when you will be on earth with your
body and with your soul always with God. Through this unconditional and pure love, you will see My Son in every person. You will feel
oneness in God. As a Mother, I will be happy because I will have your holy and united hearts. My children, I will have your salvation.
Thank you."
I ask all who are involved in the work of Medjugorje to renew the commitment first made, that is, to refocus on her words and lessons.
Stop fighting, stop gossiping, stop competing. Listen to my messages. And live them daily as best you can.
My dear brothers and sisters, Our Lady is calling us to come to her. Let us as a family brought together by her motherly love, r
|
