The extraordinary apparitions of Medjugorje and their worldwide impact

For 42 years, the Virgin Mary has appeared to six children, aged between 10 and 16 at the time, in Medjugorje, a small village in Bosnia-Herzegovina, attracting millions of pilgrims from all over the world and sparking a rare and impressive surge of conversion worldwide. "It is the Most High who sends me", the Virgin Mary says. "I have chosen this parish in a special way" (March 21, 1985). Mary invites us to "live her messages" and to come here: "If you knew how much I love you, you would weep with happiness" (March 18, 2009). According to Cardinal Hans Urs von Balthazar, "there is only one danger with Medjugorje, and that is to pass it by!"

Statue de la Reine de la Paix (ou Notre-Dame de Međugorje / © CC BY-SA 2.0/Janos Korom

Reasons to believe:

The apparitions began on June 24, 1981. The very next day, the Virgin Mary delivered messages and introduced herself as "Queen of Peace", asking us to pray for peace, "in hearts, in families and in the whole world". Nobody understood this insistence at the time, but ten years later, to the day, after referendums, the declarations of independence by Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia broke up Yugoslavia, leading to the terrible Bosnian War (1992-1995).
Miracles abound in the village, before, during and after the war, and the intense, continuous prayer every evening between 6 and 9 p.m. impresses visitors.
Medjugorje is also an astonishing place for the record number of sacramental confessions (up to 150 priests hear confessions on certain days) and conversions experienced at the site, which are countless and are witnessed by many parishes around the world.
For the past 42 years, the six seers, now adults, have claimed to receive these visits from the Virgin Mary; they have consistently maintained their testimony over the years, despite pressure, intimidation, interrogations, and criticism.
In 1986, Professor Henri Joyeux's team carried out experiments on the young visionaries during the apparitions. Electroencephalograms showed that the apparitions were not simulations, highlighting the synchronization of their ocular, auditory, cardiac and cerebral reactions.
The monthly messages transmitted on the 25th of each month call for prayer, conversion, faith, peace, reconciliation, confession, and fasting. In line with Catholic doctrine, they are widely followed, inspiring and nourishing the faith life of many faithful around the world.

Summary:

Archbishop Henryk Hoser, the Pope's special envoy to Medjugorje, said in 2017 that "the first seven apparitions could be recognized", that "worship is now authorized in Medjugorje" and that "the greatest miracle of Medjugorje is the confessionals." Pope Francis also says that "there are people who go there, are converted, people who meet God and change their lives. [...] This spiritual and pastoral fact cannot be denied."

On May 12, 2019, the Holy Father announced in a press release that the Catholic Church now allows pilgrimages to Medjugorje. The statement says: "Given the notable flow of people to Medjugorje and the abundant fruits of grace that have resulted, such a provision is part of the particular pastoral attention that the Holy Father has wished to give to this reality, intended to foster and promote good fruits." And: "This is while always taking care to avoid such pilgrimages being interpreted as an authentication of known events, which still require examination by the Church. Such pilgrimages must not be allowed to create any confusion or ambiguity on the doctrinal aspect. This also applies to pastors of all orders and ranks who intend to travel to Medjugorje and celebrate or concelebrate there, including in a solemn manner." A very logical position, since the apparitions continue to this day.

"The Gospel can be recognized by the fruits it bears, and the Medjugorje shrine has produced rivers of grace," concludes Archbishop Schönborn, the first cardinal to visit Medjugorje.

Olivier Bonnassies

Beyond reasons to believe:

In Medjugorje, the Virgin Mary offers, "like David", the weapon of the "five little pebbles" that are so important in today's spiritual battle: prayer (rosary), Bible reading, mass (weekly), confession (monthly), fasting (Wednesdays and Fridays).