http://www.ourladyprays.org Sharing the Messages of Medjugorje, Fatima & Divine Mercy given by Our Lady, Queen of Peace and Our Lord, Jesus Christ Wed, 26 Sep 2018 04:03:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.13 http://www.ourladyprays.org/estimated-100000-attend-anniversary/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/estimated-100000-attend-anniversary/#comments Sat, 05 Jul 2014 08:34:32 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/estimated-100000-attend-anniversary/ By Jakob Marschner on Jun 25, 2014 The 33rd anniversary of the first apparitions in Medjugorje is celebrated by next to 100,000 people. Medjugorje’s parish priest says that individual recognition of the Medjugorje message precedes the Church recognition. Visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic asks for prayers for the seers. Outdoor Mass in Medjugorje on June 25, the 33rd anniversary of the first apparitions. Photo: Children of Medjugorje Thirty-three years after the six Medjugorje visionaries had their first apparition, great numbers of pilgrims gathered today to mark the anniversary. Mass was celebrated in 18 languages. “Today, the thirty-third anniversary of the apparitions in Medjugorje, next to 100,000 faithful gathered from around the world” the regional newpaper Dnevni List, based in nearby Mostar, reports. Fr. Marinko Sakota On the occasion, Medjugorje parish priest Fr Marinko Sakota tells Radio Mir Medjugorje that he views the internal change experienced by pilgrims as the most important part of the Medjugorje phenomenon. “The most important thing is that I personally recognize Medjugorje, by praying, fasting, and going to Mass. And at the same time that prayer changes us on the inside. It is a recognition of Medjugorje’s corrrectness, and then the official Church will officially recognize all the gifts and fruits. The most important thing is that we recognize the (style of) life of Medjugorje” Fr. Marinko Sakota says. Visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic prays before the Blessed Sacrament after the 23rd annual Peace March on June 24. Photo: Medjugorje Info His comments come five months after the Vatican’s international Commission on Medjugorje delivered its report to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the contents of which have remained unknown. On June 23, visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic issued a rare appeal for prayers for the six Medjugorje visionaries: “Tonight, when Our Lady comes to me, I will pray for all of you. But you remember the visionaries sometimes and say a prayer for us as well” she said, according to the Medjugorje blog site Crown of Stars.]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/estimated-100000-attend-anniversary/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope-francis-blessed-medjugorje-medal/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope-francis-blessed-medjugorje-medal/#comments Sat, 05 Jul 2014 08:34:30 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope-francis-blessed-medjugorje-medal/ By Jakob Marschner on Jun 26, 2014 When Alicia Italiani from Erie, PA, wrote to Pope Francis to ask if her devotion to the Medjugorje message was was acceptable to the Church, the response was different from what she had expected. She received a Medjugorje medal, and a note that the Pontiff had personally blessed it. The envelope Alicia Italiani received from the Pope, and its contents: The medal to the right has the word Medjugorje inscribed, and has been for sale in Medjugorje for years Pope Francis is in agreement with the Medjugorje message, even if he is still to raise his voice on the authenticity of the apparitions. In early May the Pope personally blessed a Medjugorje medal and had it sent to an American woman who had asked him if following the Medjugorje message was okay with the Catholic Church. “Several months ago, I wrote a letter to Pope Francis asking his blessing and prayer for my family and for myself. I have a devotion to Our Lady of Medugorje, and I understand that whether the alleged apparitions in Medugorje are approved or not, that prayer and fasting and any devotion to the Blessed Mother is good and pleasing to God. But I still felt like I needed to know if it was OK to follow those particular messages (just because there’s been so much confusion regarding the devotion within the Church)” Alicia Italiani from Erie, PA, tells the newsletter The Spirit of Medjugorje. “On May 6, I received a response back. The response was from the Papal Nuncio to the United States from Pope Francis. Included in the envelope were a medal from Medugorje, a medal of St. Michael the Archangel and two holy cards – one with a picture of Pope Francis and the other a picture of St. Francis with his prayer for peace. The note said that the medals were blessed by Pope Francis! I felt so comforted and I just wanted to share the story” Alicia Italiani tells. With some believing it to happen this year, Pope Francis is expected to issue a verdict on Medjugorje at some point. In January an international Vatican Commission ended four years of investigations by passing on its final report to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Both its contents, the further procedure, and the time-table have remained under lock.]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope-francis-blessed-medjugorje-medal/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/confirmed-john-paul-ii-wanted-to-visit/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/confirmed-john-paul-ii-wanted-to-visit/#comments Sat, 05 Jul 2014 08:34:28 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/confirmed-john-paul-ii-wanted-to-visit/ By Jakob Marschner on Jun 28, 2014 More than once, St. Pope John Paul II expressed a desire to visit Medjugorje, but never went because he was being careful in everything he did, the postulator of his saintly cause reveals. The Pope was attracted because Medjugorje is transforming people’s hearts, and turning them to Christ. Monsignor Slawomir Oder (born August 7th 1960 in Chelmza, Poland) was ordained a priest in 1989, and has served in the Vatican since then. He was a personal friend of Pope John Paul II who made him honorary prelate of the papal house, and served as the postulator of John Paul II’s saintly cause Second-hand quotes from people who had talked to him are true: St. Pope John Paul II did indeed wish to visit Medjugorje. This is now being confirmed by Monsignor Slawomir Oder, a fellow Pole and a Vatican prelate who concluded his year-long friendship with the Pope by taking on the role as postulator of his saintly cause. - It is also said that John Paul II desired to visit Medjugorje. Can you confirm this? the Rome-based Catholic news agency Zenit asks Monsignor Oder. An artist’s interpretation of Pope John Paul II looking favorably upon Medjugorje from Rome. Postcard from 2000 “Speaking privately with his friends, the Pope said more than once: “if it were possible, I would like to go.” They are words that must not be interpreted, however, with a character of recognition or of being official in regard to the events in the Bosnian country. The Pope was always very careful in what he did, knowing the importance of his post” Monsignor Oder replies. “There is no doubt, however, that things are happening at Medjugorje that are transforming people’s heart, especially in the confessional. So the desire expressed by the Pope should be interpreted from the point of view of his priestly passion, that is, his wish to be in a place where a soul seeks Christ and finds him, thanks to a priest, through the sacrament of reconciliation or of the Eucharist” says Monsignor Slawomir Oder. Pope John Paul II met all the Medjugorje visionaries except Ivan Dragicevic, and also met a number of other central Medjugorje figures. Here, in 1992, he talks to Fr. Jozo Zovko, parish priest in Medjugorje when the apparitions began in 1981. Fr. Jozo passed on that the Pope told him: “I am with you, protect Medjugorje! Protect Our Lady’s messages!” - And why didn’t he go? “Because not everything is possible in life…” It is generally assumed that there were two reasons for the Pope not visiting: That he wanted to respect Medjugorje’s local Bishop who does not believe in the apparitions – and that his going to Medjugorje would be interpreted as official Church recognition by a time when the visionaries tell the apparitions are still taking place. Still then, there was little doubt that John Paul II would like to have visited: “If I had not been the Pope, I […]]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/confirmed-john-paul-ii-wanted-to-visit/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope%e2%80%99s-top-advisor-would-appear-with-ivan/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope%e2%80%99s-top-advisor-would-appear-with-ivan/#comments Sun, 26 Jan 2014 05:39:29 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/10019/pope%e2%80%99s-top-advisor-would-appear-with-ivan/ By Jakob Marschner on Jan 23, 2014 Chairman of the Pope’s Commission of Cardinals planned to appear with Medjugorje seer Ivan Dragicevic this weekend, yet Ivan did not make it. By agreeing to be side by side with the seer, Cardinal Maradiaga proved ready to dismiss the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office once more. Pope Francis with Cardinal Maradiaga last year on October 1, at the first meeting of the Commission of Cardinals chaired by Cardinal Maradiaga Overtones of power struggles inside the Vatican were present when Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga agreed to open the second annual Youth Festival in Danli, Honduras, on January 24. The overtones were due to the scheduled presence of visionary Ivan Dragicevic as one of five speakers from Medjugorje, yet as it turned out Ivan did not make it to Honduras. The participation of Cardinal Maradiaga, the chairman of the Commission of cardinals, the Pope’s so-called G8 group of close advisors, and his inner circle in preparing Church reforms, was confirmed by the director of the university campus that stages the event in an environment unambiguously inspired by Medjugorje, complete with replicas of St. James Church, Cross Mountain, and Apparition Hill. Cardinal Maradiaga opening the first Youth Festival in Honduras on February 7th 2013 when Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic also was present “For the second year there will be this beautiful activity in honor of the Virgin Mary of Medjugorje beginning on Friday January 24 at 8 am with Holy Mass presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga and Auxiliary Bishop Juan José Pineda. During the day we will share testimonies, and hike to Cerro de la Cruz (replica of Cross Mountain, Medjugorje) and Cerro de la Virgen which is the replica of Apparition Hill” university campus director Victor Fernandez told the Spanish website Religion Confidencial. Ivan during a public apparition in Monforte, Italy, in 2012. Cardinal Maradiaga appears by his side by a time when American Catholics have been banned from attending arrangements that take the authenticity of the apparitions “for granted”, through a document that made specific mention of Ivan’s public arrangements By appearing alongside Ivan Dragicevic, by presiding over Mass at an event modeled on the Youth Festival in Medjugorje, and by honoring the Virgin Mary of Medjugorje in an environment which is a three-fold replica of Medjugorje, Cardinal Maradiaga proved ready to openly dismiss Archbishop Gerhard Müller, the Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In October last year, Cardinal-designate Müller asked the papal nuncio to the United States to instruct the Catholic clergy and laity that they were not allowed to participate in arrangements that take the authenticity of the apparitions in Medjugorje “for granted”. With specific mention of Ivan Dragicevic’s public apparitions in the United States, the papal nuncio wrote on behalf of Archbishop Müller: Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith who initiated the restrictions on Medjugorje arrangements in the United States. […]]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope%e2%80%99s-top-advisor-would-appear-with-ivan/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope-meets-with-key-medjugorje-advisors/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope-meets-with-key-medjugorje-advisors/#comments Sun, 26 Jan 2014 05:39:26 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/10018/pope-meets-with-key-medjugorje-advisors/ “Dear children, with a motherly love and a motherly patience I am looking at your ceaseless wandering and how lost you are. That is why I am with you. I desire to help you to first find and come to know yourself, so that, then, you would be able to recognize and to admit everything that does not permit you to get to know the love of the Heavenly Father, honestly and wholeheartedly. My children, the Father comes to be known through the cross. Therefore, do not reject the cross. Strive to comprehend and accept it with my help. When you will be able to accept the cross you will also understand the love of the Heavenly Father; you will walk with my Son and with me; you will differ from those who have not come to know the love of the Heavenly Father, those who listen to Him but do not understand Him, those who do not walk with Him – who have not come to know Him. I desire for you to come to know the truth of my Son and to be my apostles; that, as children of God, you may rise above the human way of thinking and always, and in everything, seek God’s way of thinking, anew. My children, pray and fast that you may be able to recognize all of this which I am seeking of you. Pray for your shepherds and long to come to know the love of your Heavenly Father, in union with them. Thank you.”]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope-meets-with-key-medjugorje-advisors/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope%e2%80%99s-top-advisor-with-ivan-in-honduras/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope%e2%80%99s-top-advisor-with-ivan-in-honduras/#comments Fri, 24 Jan 2014 05:18:52 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/10015/pope%e2%80%99s-top-advisor-with-ivan-in-honduras/ By Jakob Marschner on Jan 23, 2014 Chairman of the Pope’s Commission of Cardinals appears alongside Medjugorje seer Ivan Dragicevic this weekend. By placing himself next to Ivan in an event that honors Medjugorje, the Cardinal dismisses the Prefect of the Vatican’s doctrinal office for the second time this week. Pope Francis with Cardinal Maradiaga last year on October 1, at the first meeting of the Commission of Cardinals chaired by Cardinal Maradiaga Overtones of power struggles inside the Vatican are present when Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga opens the second annual Youth Festival in Danli, Honduras, on Friday. The overtones are amplified by the presence of visionary Ivan Dragicevic as one of five speakers from Medjugorje. The participation of Cardinal Maradiaga, the chairman of the Commission of cardinals, the Pope’s so-called G8 group of close advisors, and his inner circle in preparing Church reforms, is being confirmed by the director of the university campus that stages the event in an environment unambiguously inspired by Medjugorje, complete with replicas of St. James Church, Cross Mountain, and Apparition Hill. Cardinal Maradiaga opening the first Youth Festival in Honduras on February 7th 2013 when Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic also was present “For the second year there will be this beautiful activity in honor of the Virgin Mary of Medjugorje beginning on Friday January 24 at 8 am with Holy Mass presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga and Auxiliary Bishop Juan José Pineda. During the day we will share testimonies, and hike to Cerro de la Cruz (replica of Cross Mountain, Medjugorje) and Cerro de la Virgen which is the replica of Apparition Hill” university campus director Victor Fernandez tells the Spanish website Religion Confidencial. Ivan during a public apparition in Monforte, Italy, in 2012. Cardinal Maradiaga appears by his side by a time when American Catholics have been banned from attending arrangements that take the authenticity of the apparitions “for granted”, through a document that made specific mention of Ivan’s public arrangements By appearing alongside Ivan Dragicevic, by presiding over Mass at an event modeled on the Youth Festival in Medjugorje, and by honoring the Virgin Mary of Medjugorje in an environment which is a three-fold replica of Medjugorje, Cardinal Maradiaga openly dismisses Archbishop Gerhard Müller, the Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In October last year, Cardinal-designate Müller asked the papal nuncio to the United States to instruct the Catholic clergy and laity that they were not allowed to participate in arrangements that take the authenticity of the apparitions in Medjugorje “for granted”. With specific mention of Ivan Dragicevic’s public apparitions in the United States, the papal nuncio wrote on behalf of Archbishop Müller: Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith who initiated the restrictions on Medjugorje arrangements in the United States. Cardinal Maradiaga’s appearance along a Medjugorje represents the second time when he distances himself from the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office in […]]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/pope%e2%80%99s-top-advisor-with-ivan-in-honduras/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/cardinal-expect-pope%e2%80%99s-verdict-this-year/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/cardinal-expect-pope%e2%80%99s-verdict-this-year/#comments Tue, 21 Jan 2014 04:33:41 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/10011/cardinal-expect-pope%e2%80%99s-verdict-this-year/ By Jakob Marschner on Jan 20, 2014 Pope Francis’ ruling on Medjugorje can be expected this year, says Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo, a member of the investigative Commission. The Commission has shared its opinion on whether to give Medjugorje shrine status or not, and people are still free to visit. Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo Granting Medjugorje shrine status or not is a part of the recommendations that the Vatican Commmission on Medjugorje handed over to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) on January 17, Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo tells the Croatian news portal Dnevnik. Cardinal Puljic, a member of the international investigative Commission since it was formed in 2010, further tells that a verdict from Pope Francis on the case of Medjugorje can be expected later this year. “The Commission has submitted the results of our work to CDF, what we worked on for four years as an international Commission. These results the Congregation will consider and make a proposal to the Pope, and then the Pope will decide how to handle it. This year we can expect the final word from the Holy Father” says Cardinal Vinko Puljic. The Cardinal further informs that pilgrims are still free to visit Medjugorje. This upholds what has been status quo since the bishops of then-Yugoslavia decided so in April 1991. “The Commission is not opposed to Medjugorje as a place of faith where faithful pilgrims gather” Cardinal Puljic confirms. Spirit Daily is circulating this article]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/cardinal-expect-pope%e2%80%99s-verdict-this-year/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/commission-found-real-fruits-no-fraud/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/commission-found-real-fruits-no-fraud/#comments Mon, 20 Jan 2014 04:19:16 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/10010/commission-found-real-fruits-no-fraud/ By Jakob Marschner on Jan 19, 2014 The findings of the Vatican Commission on Medjugorje make a favorable judgment an option, though in a partial form because the apparitions are ongoing. The Commission found real and significant fruits in the form of conversions, and no evidence of fraud, deception or abuse. No fraud detected, good fruits recognized, initially positive conclusion positive while keeping in mind that the phenomenon is still going on: After four years of work, Medjugorje gets a positive review from the Vatican Commission. Photo: Hrvoje Joe Topic Medjugorje gets a favorable review in the final report handed over this weekend from the international Commission of inquiry to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The reports facilitates a favorable judgment, at least on matters that can be clarified and evaluated by a time when the apparitions continue, Vatican Insider has learned. “The verdict could be positive, albeit partial. Vatican Insider has learnt that the Commission has focused mainly on the first phase of apparitions. There is apparently no proof of any tricks, hoaxes or abuse of popular credulity. However, it is proving difficult for the Church to form a definitive verdict on the supernatural nature of a phenomenon that is ongoing” the Vatican special section of the major Italian newspaper La Stampa continues. Headed by Cardinal Camillo Ruini (left), the Medjugorje Commission was initiated by Pope Benedict XVI almost four years ago, on March 17th 2010 The Commission report also recognizes the spiritual fruits of Medjugorje: “The Commission and Cardinal Ruini himself thanks to visits by people close to him have noticed that people really are converting to the faith or returning to the sacraments – what the Church refers to as spiritual fruits –  in a significant way” Vatican Insider further notes. While almost no one have expected the report to immediately precede the Church’s final judgment on the authenticity of the events at Medjugorje, a number of insightful sources have said the report will likely affect the future administration of the place. In this field, Vatican Insider revives the idea of removing Medjugorje from the diocese of Mostar where Bishop Ratko Peric never believed in the apparitions. First mentioned by sources as an option in 2011, the idea has since been dismissed by others as unrealistic: “A couple of solutions proposed in the recent past,  have been to restore the old diocese of Trebinje  so as to remove Medjugorje from the territory of the Mostar diocese or to create a Marian shrine that would be managed by a rector from another diocese” Vatican Insider reports.]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/commission-found-real-fruits-no-fraud/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/official-commission-has-ended-its-work/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/official-commission-has-ended-its-work/#comments Sun, 19 Jan 2014 03:55:40 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/10008/official-commission-has-ended-its-work/ By Jakob Marschner on Jan 18, 2014 Four years of Vatican investigation into the events of Medjugorje ended with the final meeting of the international Commission on January 17, Vatican spokesman confirms. But it may still be a while until the conclusions and the ultimate decisions of the Pope are being disclosed. Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi with….no, it is not the international Commission’s report on Medjugorje whose contents may still take a while to get known. Yet on January 18 Fr. Lombardi confirmed that the report is finished and has been handed over Questioned by reporters, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi confirmed on January 18 that the international Commission for inquiry into the events of Medjugorje ended its work the day before, and has submitted its findings and conclusions to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) who will take them to Pope Francis. “Yesterday, on Friday January 17, the last meeting of the International Commission of Inquiry on Medjugorje, established by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under the presidency of Cardinal Camillo Ruini took place. The Commission has thus completed its work” the Vatican spokesman said, according to Vatican Radio. Andrea Tornielli No one knows how long CDF will take, or how much or little it will expand on the work of the Commission. But the experienced Vatican correspondent Andrea Tornielli believes it could be a while until the public hears more. “The end of the Commission’s work does not mean that the outcome will be immediately disclosed. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will review the file and then will present its conclusions to the Pope. (…) It is therefore not at all certain that the conclusions of the Commission are made known in a short time” Tornielli writes in Vatican Insider. “One problem that the Commission has been facing is the huge amount of messages attributed to Our Lady, (messages) that continue to be disclosed. It looks like the Commission initially embarked on a road of focusing on the early events and the first messages” Andrea Tornielli further reports. That the Commission has shown a particular interest in the earliest days of the apparitions is consistent with other informations acquired by Medjugorje Today.]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/official-commission-has-ended-its-work/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/media-commission-will-finish-this-week/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/media-commission-will-finish-this-week/#comments Thu, 16 Jan 2014 03:11:20 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/10004/media-commission-will-finish-this-week/ “Dear children, with a motherly love and a motherly patience I am looking at your ceaseless wandering and how lost you are. That is why I am with you. I desire to help you to first find and come to know yourself, so that, then, you would be able to recognize and to admit everything that does not permit you to get to know the love of the Heavenly Father, honestly and wholeheartedly. My children, the Father comes to be known through the cross. Therefore, do not reject the cross. Strive to comprehend and accept it with my help. When you will be able to accept the cross you will also understand the love of the Heavenly Father; you will walk with my Son and with me; you will differ from those who have not come to know the love of the Heavenly Father, those who listen to Him but do not understand Him, those who do not walk with Him – who have not come to know Him. I desire for you to come to know the truth of my Son and to be my apostles; that, as children of God, you may rise above the human way of thinking and always, and in everything, seek God’s way of thinking, anew. My children, pray and fast that you may be able to recognize all of this which I am seeking of you. Pray for your shepherds and long to come to know the love of your Heavenly Father, in union with them. Thank you.”]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/media-commission-will-finish-this-week/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/rome-restricts-medjugorje-in-the-states/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/rome-restricts-medjugorje-in-the-states/#comments Mon, 11 Nov 2013 03:56:57 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/9906/rome-restricts-medjugorje-in-the-states/ By Jakob Marschner on Nov 6, 2013 Visionary Ivan Dragicevic’s scheduled public apparations in late October were cancelled upon instructions from the head of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. American Bishops have been asked not to permit arrangements that take the apparitions for granted. The top part of the letter the papal nuncio to the United States has sent to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, in effect putting an end to visionary Ivan Dragicevic’s public arrangements on church property Arrangements that take the credibility of the apparitions in Medjugorje for granted are not to be accepted in Catholic churches in the United States. The restriction further extends to conferences, meetings and other public celebrations, and for the first time imposes restrictions upon Catholic laity, not only the clergy. From the head of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, via the papal nuncio to the United States, on October 21 this message was sent to the General Secretary of the United States Conference for Catholic Bishops, for distribution among the Bishops throughout the country. No longer in the United States: Ivan Dragicevic on November 17th 2011, during his apparition in St. Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria, invited by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn The instruction got the immediate effect that visionary Ivan Dragicevic’s scheduled appearances on October 26 in Danvers, MA, and on October 27 in Greenville, RI, were cancelled shortly before they were to take place. In his letter of instructions, US papal nuncio (‘ambassador’) Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano tells the organization of Catholic Bishops that he is acting at the request of Archbishop Gerhard Müller, the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), called “His Excellency” in the following: Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the papal nuncio to the United States, is in effect the Vatican’s US ambassador “His Excellency wishes to inform the Bishops that one of the so-called visionaries of Medjugorje, Mr. Ivan Dragicevic, is scheduled to appear at certain parishes around the country, during which time he will make presentations regarding the phenomenon of Medjugorje. It is anticipated, moreover, that Mr. Dragicevic will be receiving “apparitions” during these scheduled appearances” the papal nuncio opens his letter to the US Bishops that has been obtained by the Catholic news portal Spirit Daily. Archbishop Gerhard Müller, the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on whose behalf the papal nuncio writes his letter to the US Bishops CDF is also the body to which the current Vatican Commission for investigation of the events of Medjugorje is going to report, the fact next addressed by the papal nuncio: “As you are well aware, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is in the process of investigating certain doctrinal and disciplinary aspects of the phenomenon of Medjugorje. For this reason, the Congregation has affirmed that, with regard to the credibility of the “apparitions” in question, all should accept the declaration, dated 10 April 1991, from […]]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/rome-restricts-medjugorje-in-the-states/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/arranger-restrictions-only-seemingly-bad/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/arranger-restrictions-only-seemingly-bad/#comments Mon, 11 Nov 2013 03:56:52 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/9905/arranger-restrictions-only-seemingly-bad/ By Jakob Marschner on Nov 7, 2013 “Before something really good happens, something seemingly bad always happens” says visionary Ivan Dragicevic’s US tour coordinator after restrictions on church apparitions and other arrangements. Recognized commentator sees the move as preparing Medjugorje’s shrine status. Ana Shawl Apparitions to Medjugorje visionaries currently do not take place in American churches, and upon October 21′s instructions from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith neither priests nor laity are allowed to take part in arrangements that take the credibility of the apparitions for granted. But there is no need to worry, visionary Ivan Dragicevic’s US tour coordinator Ana Shawl says after having had to cancel two public arrangements for Ivan late in October. Hinting that good news for Medjugorje is right around the corner, she refers to the Vatican instruction as only “seemingly bad”: Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic during his most recent public appearance, on September 4 in Lonigo (Italy) “Right now I can just say we don’t worry about anything. Always before something really, really good happens, something seemingly bad happens but everything is in God’s hands. You know how Peter was reprimanded for wanting to stop those who were trying to crucify Jesus, and Jesus said “Get behind me, Satan”. So, too, if this is God’s will for right now, it is for a good reason, right?” Ana Shawl wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. “We just pray for all of those to come to know the love of God and change hearts because, clearly, they do not know what they are doing” she further commented. At Medjugorje Live, the most visited Medjugorje message board, the restricting directive from the Vatican Congregation drew many comments on Wednesday, with several coming from ‘bluecross’, a noted blogger who has long been of the impression that the Vatican’s current investigative commission is preparing to declare Medjugorje a shrine. The identity of ‘bluecross’ is known by Medjugorje Today: “This latest directive is another step in the process of preparing an announcement on Medjugorje. This announcement will, I feel, place a very clear distinction between the visionaries/apparitions (private revelation) and any confirmation of shrine status” ‘bluecross’ commented at Medjugorje Live. Jimmy Akin Among Medjugorje sceptics and critics, two among the more outspoken received the Vatican directive cautiously, agreeing that the directive is not revealing of what the Vatican Commission on Medjugorje is ultimately going to conclude: “It certainly is not an encouraging sign for those who would want to see Medjugorje approved. On the other hand, sticking with the existing policy and applying its logic more rigorously is not a change of substance and does not tell us anything in particular about what the ultimate ruling is likely to be” Catholic Answers senior apologist Jimmy Akin wrote on his blog at National Catholic Register. Fr. Donald Calloway “It certainly doesn’t answer the question of Medjugorje, but does not bode well that the Holy See decided specifically not to turn a blind eye to promotion of this poster child for […]]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/arranger-restrictions-only-seemingly-bad/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/claim-of-condemnation-is-disobedience/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/claim-of-condemnation-is-disobedience/#comments Mon, 11 Nov 2013 03:56:48 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/9904/claim-of-condemnation-is-disobedience/ By Jakob Marschner on Nov 10, 2013 The Vatican restrictions upon Medjugorje arrangements far from equal a formal condemnation, and those who give this impression in fact disobey Church authority by usurping the role of Pope Francis, says Professor Mark Miravalle who advises Medjugorje’s supporters to pray and obey. Professor Mark Miravalle with Pope Benedict XVI Pilgrimages are still permitted, Medjugorje has not been condemned, and the restrictions the Vatican has recently imposed upon public arrangements do not change anything in this regard. Indeed, anyone who pictures the restrictions as a formal condemnation is disobeying rightful Church authority by preempting a decision that has not yet been taken. These are the main points of an article by Professor Mark Miravalle after an October 21 directive has restricted Medjugorje arrangements in the United States if arrangers take the credibility of the apparitions for granted. Miravalle, a University of Steubenville Professor of Theology and Mariology and an expert on Church evaluation of acclaimed apparitions, has written several books on Medjugorje. Only Pope Francis can declare Medjugorje condemned, and when this has not happened, calling Medjugorje condemned is disobedience to legitimate Church authority, says Professor Mark Miravalle “To the larger public, I would say: be clear and beware not to take the new restriction for what it is not: a definitive Church statement against Medjugorje’s authenticity. The CDF has a right, for whatever reason, to implement further restrictions while the ongoing Vatican Commission completes its study, which will ultimately go before Pope Francis for final judgment” Mark Miravalle writes. “But the fact remains, the Church process is not over. Medjugorje has not been declared “constat de non” (not authentic, ed.) by the U.S. Nuncio letter, and any conclusion or promulgation at this time that Medjugorje has been officially condemned would be its own form of disobedience to proper Church authority. To do so would be to usurp the role of the CDF and ultimately of Pope Francis himself to make the final discernment of the authenticity of Medjugorje—a critical and historic discernment which belongs to the Church’s Magisterium alone” the Professor continues. In his statement, Mark Miravalle also addresses Medjugorje’s millions of followers worldwide whom he asks to “pray and obey”: “This new restriction (which is nothing like a formal prohibition) can, in fact, become a providential opportunity to show the world that the great majority of Medjugorje followers live and breathe at the heart of the Church, in full obedience to the Church, and are not “fringe fanatics” whose faith hinges only on an alleged apparition, as some critics may at times assert. The proof is obedience” he writes.]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/claim-of-condemnation-is-disobedience/feed/ 0 http://www.ourladyprays.org/media-rome-rules-on-medjugorje-in-2014/ http://www.ourladyprays.org/media-rome-rules-on-medjugorje-in-2014/#comments Sat, 09 Nov 2013 03:31:37 +0000 http://www.ourladyprays.org/9901/media-rome-rules-on-medjugorje-in-2014/ By Jakob Marschner on Nov 8, 2013 With a final decision expected next year, the Vatican Commission on Medjugorje will have their next meeting in two weeks, a major Italian newspaper reports. Il Messaggero confirms previous leaks saying there is neither evidence for recognizing nor for condemning the apparitions. The Palace of the Holy Office, the building that houses the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith where the Medjugorje Commission meets for its sessions. Investigation of Medjugorje will formally continue later this month when the Vatican Commission will meet for its next session, the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero reports in its printed edition on Friday, according to the newsletter of Fine Settimana, a 34 years old network of Italian priests. “The next meeting (…) has been scheduled in two weeks. The final decision is expected in 2014″ Fine Settimana cites Il Messaggero. The informations obtained by the Italian paper are in line with previous leaks indicating that the Commission will neither rule positively nor negatively on the authenticity of the apparitions, but uphold the Church’s current position and leave the question open, undecided: Cardinal Camillo Ruini heads the Medjugorje Commission “From the rumors it seems that there is no evidence to suggest the apparitions are false, but also no evidence to confirm them. Probably the Church does not officially recognize them immediately because you cannot do that if supernatural phenomena are still ongoing” Il Messaggero writes. The most widely read newspaper in Rome confirms the Vatican Commission to have studied alleged miracles and “many” cases of healing, aside of the political reactions to the apparitions when they first began in 1981: “Among the documents are also a number of papers from the Bosnian intelligence services, demonstrating the attempt by the former communist regime to discredit the six visionaries, and lie about their conduct and that of Franciscan friars linked to the parish of Medjugorje” Il Messaggero reports.]]> http://www.ourladyprays.org/media-rome-rules-on-medjugorje-in-2014/feed/ 0