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.
 

February 2011

“Listen to me!”

 By WAYNE WEIBLE

 When we really want to get someone’s attention, usually while in hot debate or to firmly make our point, we often interject in a slightly louder voice: “Listen to me!”

 Our Lady of Medjugorje is no different. Look at this message she gave back on February 14, 1985. This was a time before the monthly messages we have grown accustomed to receiving. This was a unique period of time when she was personally teaching the parish of St. James Church in Medjugorje every Thursday evening through messages relayed through visionary Marija. This is what she said:

 "Dear children! Today is the day when I give you a message for the parish, but the whole parish is not accepting the messages and is not living them. I am saddened and I want you, dear children, to listen to me and to live my messages. Every family must pray family prayer and read the Bible! Thank you for having responded to my call."

 Not all that different from many of her messages to the world in these last 29 years and eight months, you might think. And you’re right. The problem is, we’re still not listening to Our Lady Of Medjugorje, even though the “Listen to me!” is now much louder and is interjected more often. The Blessed Virgin doesn’t necessarily use these exact words, but the tone is the same. Look what she said in her February 2, 2011, message to visionary Mirjana:

"Dear children, You are gathering around me, you are seeking your way, you are seeking, you are seeking the truth but are forgetting what is the most important, you are forgetting to pray properly. Your lips pronounce countless words, but your spirit does not feel anything. Wandering in darkness, you even imagine God Himself according to yourselves, and not such as He really is in His love. Dear children, proper prayer comes from the depth of your heart, from your suffering, from your joy, from your seeking the forgiveness of sins. This is the way to come to know the right God and by that also yourselves, because you are created according to Him. Prayer will bring you to the fulfillment of my desire, of my mission here with you, to the unity in God's family. Thank you."

Wouldn’t you agree this is a “Listen to Me!” message? It is a message that should be read over and over to guide us to true conversion.

The Blessed Virgin puts it succinctly: “. . .you are forgetting to pray properly.” Possibly we are not listening with our hearts but more with our curiosity, waiting each month on the 25^th and the 2^nd to see what new things she might be saying to us. But like a good mother, she continues to harp on the same things until we get it and then utilize it. She makes the point rather sternly that prayer and fasting lead the way to literally listening with the heart and then acting on it. It is a theme repeated over and over in her messages not only at Medjugorje but at other sites and to other individuals. Read carefully the “other” messages reportedly coming from her that we have included in this edition of our monthly newsletter. See the pattern of repetition on the elements needed to bring us into full spiritual communion with God.

To add to the need to listen more closely to the Virgin’s words, we need go no further back than to the monthly message of November, 2010. Here is blunt proof that we are not listening as we should:

Dear children! I look at you and I see in your heart death without hope, restlessness and hunger. There is no prayer or trust in God, that is why the Most High permits me to bring you hope and joy. Open yourselves. Open your hearts to God’s mercy and He will give you everything you need and will fill your hearts with peace, because He is peace and your hope. Thank you for having responded to my call.

There is only one time in past monthly messages that the Blessed Virgin Mary did not greet the followers of Medjugorje with her usual “Dear Children” greeting. That was during the horrible civil war that took place in former Yugoslavia from August 1991 through the better part of 1993. It was at the start of the war, which she had predicted at the outset of the apparitions would happen if the people of that region did not “listen” to her and reconcile with one another. The animosity was at its zenith between Serb, Croat and Muslim throughout former Yugoslavia. On October 25, 1991, Our Lady gave her monthly message to Marija as always; however, she did not give the usual greeting and she did not end it as she always did with: “Thank you for responding to my call.” She simply said with great somberness and urgency: "PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

 Here was a message from Our Lady definitely screaming at us: “Listen to me!”

 With careful study and repeated readings of the monthly messages, another clear pattern surfaces. She always adds words of love and hope.The monthly message of March 25, 2006, did this in an unusual way. It marked only the second time Our Lady has altered the greeting of “Dear children.” This time, she began: “Courage, little children!” One can feel the urgency of this changed greeting of that time of darkness as we face more and darker evil in the world today. Courage, little children!

 To be blunt, I have felt an increased sense of urgency in the monthly messages of the past six months. It is a time to “listen” to her as never before and she gives us a way to keep it fresh. In a message given July 25, 2005, she called on us “to fill your day with short and ardent prayers. . .”  And she introduced something else that was new by asking us to “do novenas of fasting and renunciation so that Satan be far from you and grace be around you.”

 Most of us know that a novena is a period of nine days. Therefore, The Blessed Virgin was asking us to pray and to pray ardently for a specific period of time. She is asking us to fast as she has asked us to fast so many times. It is usually the first thing a follower of Medjugorje gives up on because it is difficult. Now, she is saying, we can’t give up on it; we must do it to relieve the urgency within us and within our world.

 Even though she had called for prayer and fasting hundreds of times during past monthly messages, she had never quite put it in such detailed form. It is a time, I feel she is telling us, for novenas and for constant short and ardent prayers and for true fasting. It is a time of urgency underlined by escalating events of evil and darkness and aberrant weather patterns throughout the world. Any doubt about that as instability and minor wars rage and we suffer through numerous extreme weather disasters globally?

 In conclusion, let’s look at one more message given by Our Lady to Mirjana on April 2 2005: "Dear Children, I come to you because I wish to show you, by my own example, the importance of the prayer for those who have not known the love of God. Ask yourself if you are following me. My children, don't you recognize the signs of the times? Don't you talk about them? Follow me. As your Mother I call you! Thank you for having responded."

And she follows it in a state of extreme somberness with this exclamation: “God is love!  God is love!  God is love!"  Are we listening?  God’s peace.

My best wishes and God bless., Wayne

_______________________________________________________________________________

October 2010

MEETING WITH IMMACULEE,

BY WAYNE WEIBLE,

Do you know this name, Immaculee?

Her full name is Immaculee Ilibagiza, and she is from the small country of Rwanda in Africa. Her story is one of the greatest faith stories of our times, having touched millions throughout the world. It recently touched me.

Maybe the name of Immaculee’s country will ring a bell: Rwanda.

Many followers of Medjugorje possibly may remember that the Blessed Virgin Mary also came to Rwanda in apparition beginning in August 1981, appearing to a multitude of visionaries in the tiny village of Kibeho over a period of several years. Most of us, however, remember this rather unknown African country as a place where a savagely evil surge of genocide by the Hutu tribe against the Tutsi tribe raged for more than three months in 1994, taking the lives of more than one million Tutsi men, women and children. 

The apparitions of Our Lady in Kibeho and the horror of the genocide in Rwanda play a monumental part in the implausible story of faith of Immaculee Ilibagiza. Her life was dramatically changed by both events.

The apparitions in Kibeho, began just a couple of months after the apparitions commenced in Medjugorje. As you will see, there are an incredible number of like circumstances between the Medjugorje and Kibeho apparitions.The Blessed Virgin eventually appeared to eight visionaries in Kibeho, compared to six visionaries and two locutionists in Medjugorje. At first the Kibeho apparitions were mocked and no one really believed. Why would the Virgin come to such an insignificant place as Kibeho—just as the thinking went when she came to Medjugorje.

But soon thousands were visiting the apparition site from all over Rwanda, and then from other countries. The report of miracle after miracle stoked the ever-increasing flow of pilgrims. Of course, the same is true of Medjugorje. Another vitally important similarity between the two sites is that the Blessed Virgin predicted the bloodbath that was to come to Rwanda if the people did not seek peace and reconciliation with each other. She did the same at Medjugorje warning that horrible war would cause great tragedy if there was not an attempt at peace. Unfortunately neither place listened.

There is one major outstanding difference between the two apparition sites of the Blessed Virgin. When the active apparitions ceased, Kibeho would quickly become recognized by the Church as an authentic apparition site, a small miracle in itself. In Medjugorje, we await a Vatican statement concerning the apparitions while they continue to occur daily.

THE TRANSFORMATION

Among those who would make pilgrimage to Kibeho in the first year of the apparitions was Immaculee’s father. She begged her father to take her but he insisted it was too dangerous for a twelve year old girl and difficult and that she would have opportunity to go later. Immaculee would finally be able to go herself while attending college. She was 18 when she made her first pilgrimage and yet felt as though it was the same as when she first heard about it. Little did she know that one day, she would be the one to tell the world about Kibeho—as well as about the genocide that killed nearly her entire family and many childhood friends and neighbors.

Suffice it to say, Immaculée’s life was transformed dramatically by the Kibeho apparitions and the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She lost her father, mother and all but one brother, all who were slain by machetes and gunshots by village neighbors once considered friends. Immaculee was ordered by her father during an attack to flee to a minister’s home who was a good family friend, even though he was a member of the Hutu tribe that was now killing all members of the Tutsi tribe, of which Immaculee was a part. The minister took pity and placed Immaculee in a three-foot by four-foot bathroom where she and seven other women spent an unbelievable 91 days huddled silently together.

Immaculée entered the bathroom a vibrant, 115-pound university student with a loving family - she emerged weighing just 65 pounds to find most of her family had been brutally murdered.

How could Immaculee—or anyone—survive such conditions? Here is where faith takes over. From the time she was four years old, she had an unusually strong faith in Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. When the apparitions began in Kibeho, it only strengthened her belief. She credits her salvation from the genocide mostly to nearly constant prayer and to a set of rosary beads given to her by her father prior to going into hiding. Anger and resentment heightened by the insufferable conditions of her hiding place, were literally eating her alive and destroying her faith.

But rather than succumbing to the rage that she felt, Immaculée instead turned to prayer. She began to pray the rosary as a way of drowning out the negativity that was building up inside her. She found solace and peace only in prayer. She prayed from the time she opened her eyes in the morning to the time she closed her eyes at night. Through prayer, she eventually found it possible, and in fact imperative, to forgive her tormentors and her family's murderers.

Ninety-one days after entering the tiny bathroom cell in the minister’s home, Immaculée's strength in her faith empowered her to stare down a man armed with a machete threatening to kill her right after fleeing from the bathroom when the minister could no longer take the chance of hiding them. She also later came face to face with the killer of her mother and her brother and said the unthinkable, "I forgive you."  

Immaculée knew, while in hiding, that she would have to overcome immeasurable odds without her family and with her country destroyed. Fortunately, she utilized her time in that tiny bathroom to teach herself English with only The Bible and a dictionary; once freed she was able to secure a job with the United Nations.

In 1998, Immaculée immigrated to the United States where she continued her work with the UN. During this time she shared her story with co-workers and friends, who were so impacted they insisted she write it down in book form. Three days after finishing her manuscript she met best selling author, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, who, within minutes of meeting her, offered to publish her book. Dyer is quoted as saying, "There is something much more than charisma at work here - Immaculée not only writes and speaks about unconditional love and forgiveness, but she radiates it wherever she goes."

Today Immaculée is regarded as one of world's leading speakers on peace, faith, and forgiveness. She has shared her universal message with world dignitaries, school children, multinational corporations, churches, and at many conferences. Immaculée works hard to spread her message and to raise money for her Left to Tell Charitable Fund which directly benefits the children orphaned by the genocide.

OUR CHANCE MEETING

Last month, upon completion of Immaculee’s book, Led By Faith, my wife Judith decided to visit Immaculee’s web site. She discovered that she would be speaking in Charlotte, North Carolina in two days. We decided to go on the spur of the moment. I took two copies of the hard cover edition of Medjugorje: The Message, intending to give one to the helpful lady who arranged our tickets and helped us find a place close by to stay; the other, I hoped to give to Immaculee,  if were we fortunate enough to spend a few moments with her during her book signing.

On arriving to the meeting, we met Joan Bradley, the lady who had been so helpful and I gave her a copy of the book.  About fifteen minutes later as we were waiting to enter the banquet room where Immaculee would be speaking—hoping to get a seat near the front—Joan came rushing up and told us that Immaculee had seen the book in her possession and immediately asked her, “Where did you get that book?”  Joan told her that I had given it to her and also had a copy for her. She explained that we were there to hear her speak. Immaculee immediately sent Joan back to us to ask if we would be so kind as to meet with her privately before her talk. 

What followed was one of the most memorable moments of my mission. Just to sit across from a person who had gone through such suffering and survived was awesome. And then to hear her carry on about Medjugorje. She had gone there on pilgrimage and was yearning to return with her two small children. Soon, we were talking about possibilities for her to come to Medjugorje with one of my groups.

I had known in my heart I would eventually meet Immaculee, even though I had come to the talk without such expectations. Then to find out that Immaculee knew about Medjugorje and my other books and wanted to meet us, I knew that Our Lady was behind it all. We talked so long the event was delayed a short while. During the dinner held before the speaking began, Joan found us at our table near the back of the room and asked us if we would be willing to meet with Immaculee again after the book signing and the evening’s events were concluded. We agreed and talked with this beautiful lady from Rwanda and her aide Kathy until 12:30 in the morning!

   By the way, just to emphasize how Our Lady is usually behind these kinds of happenings, because of meeting with Immaculee, we “lost” our place in line and ended up at the last table near the back of the room. There were three women sitting there alone—a mother and her teenage daughter, and her mother. When they learned of my involvement with Medjugorje through quick introductions, they were so happy telling us that they had been to Medjugorje and had read my books. We had a delightful time in sharing Medjugorje stories.

HER BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH US

Let me conclude by telling you that this entire story of faith has so touched me that we will now be carrying all of Immaculee’s books beginning with the first, Left To Tell, and Led By Faith. You can order them through the newsletter or at our web site medjugorjeweible.com. I suggest you begin with her story titled: Left To Tell. She writes in a simple, innocent way that will touch your heart from the first pages. Follow that book with Led By Faith, one of the most touching books I have ever read. It has increased my faith many times over.

What a delight to share the faith with others and to learn more of God’s eternal love and compassion for all his children. Even through the worst of horrors, His light shines through.

May the peace, grace and love of Jesus always lead you.

_______________________________________________________________________________

September 2010

MOTHER TERESA'S FANTASTIC LOVE

 KNEW NO RELIGIOUS BOUNDS

BY WAYNE WEIBLE

As we reflect on the life of Mother Teresa, who died four years ago this month, and whose canonization process is actively underway, aspects of her miraculous life keep coming to the surface. Most of them involve examples of her fantastic love which knew no personal, political or religious bounds. Perhaps none is more surprising and even amazing – and revealing -- than a request she made during a tour of Africa she had made many years ago.

"In Yemen," recounted Mother Teresa, "which is entirely a Muslim country, I asked one of the rich people to build a Masjid [a mosque] there. People needed a place to pray, I said to him; they are all Muslim brothers and sisters. They need to have a place where they can meet God."

A Catholic nun, who is sure to be recognized as a saint, asking for construction of a Muslim mosque! How does such an act of true love set with so many of us today in light of the horror of Islamic extremism leading to millions of terrorist inflicted deaths?

Take a moment to read—or reread—Our Lady’s latest message given on September 2: Dear children, I am beside you because I desire to help you to overcome trials, which this time of purification puts before you. My children, one of those is not to forgive and not to ask for forgiveness. Every sin offends Love and distances you from it – and Love is my Son. (Emphasis added). Therefore, my children, if you desire to walk with me towards the peace of God’s love, you must learn to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. Thank you.

It was such boundless charity that Mother Teresa emphasized as the hallmark of her faith. Love comes out of charity; charity comes out of love. Hers was a charity that knew no religious bounds. She was careful, yes, to adhere to the Catholic way; no one was more orthodox; no one had greater appreciation for the sacraments; but she was most careful above all to love.

What greater proof of such love is there than the words given to us by the Blessed Virgin in September’s message given on the second day of the month. As the most Holy Virgin points out, we must forgive and we must ask for forgiveness.  We do neither when we hold prejudices against others whether they be individuals or groups or races or religions. We are the ones who established the boundaries between what we believe and what others believe.

Here is another incident depicting humble love, this one given by Our Lady in the early days of the apparitions, Mary pointed out a very humble and faithful woman to the visionaries as an example of faith she was trying to teach them. “But dear Mother”, one of the visionaries exclaimed in shocked surprise, “That woman is a Muslim!”

“Yes, I know,” she answered calmly. “But that is for God to decide. You are to convert your own hearts and not worry about others.” (Paraphrased).

Clearly, Our Lady is emphasizing that it is in the sincerity of living one’s faith that brings about holiness and thus the imitation of Jesus. The root of faith is in humble acts of pure love. 

Another example of such humility came through a story related to me by a good  priest friend He had the good fortune to meet and work with Mother Teresa. One day he asked her if she would like to visit Medjugorje, knowing that she firmly believed in the apparitions. “Oh, no,” she answered quietly. “I would be a distraction.” She then added: “But would you do me a favor?”

“Of course,” my priest friend responded, “What is it?”

“Would you please ask Our Lady to intercede in finding a cure for AIDS?”

Here again, we pause for thought: This holy woman asking for a cure of a disease many of us associate with sin?

These words and actions of Mother Teresa are important words at a time when pride runs rampant. And, as Our Lady has pointed out numerous times in her messages given at Medjugorje, pride is the ugly and unholy presence of Satan in our daily lives. It is the antithesis of humble acts of love, regardless of faith, color or sex. That is the gift of Mother Teresa. A woman who was unafraid to act in love. A woman who was a true imitation of Jesus.

One last thought. I think Mother Teresa is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Her beauty, like that of Our Lady described by the visionaries many times, is a beauty of pure love honed out of humility and acceptance of all of God’s children, regardless of their present condition in life.

The peace, grace and LOVE of Jesus be with each of you.

May-June 2010

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.

March 2010

THE ILLUMINATION OF THE SOUL - A MEDJUGORJE SECRET?

BY WAYNE WEIBLE

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.

January 2010

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 2009

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