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THE MOTHER OF GOD APPEARS IN MEDJUGORJE

Life in the Parish of Medjugorje (West-Hercegovina) and a large part of the surrounding area changed completely after the Mother of God appeared for the first time to Vicka (16), Mirjana (16), Marija (16), Ivan (16), Ivanka (15) en Jakov (10) in adjoining Bijakovici on 25th June 1981.
The Holy Virgin said to them:"I am the Queen of Peace. I have come, because there are many true believers here. I want to be with you to convert and to reconcile the whole world." (June 26th 1981)
So began a many years during series of daily appearances on the Podbrdo, in the annex-sacristy of the Parish church, in the rectory, on the choir loft of the church, on the Krizevac and elsewhere.
Father Jozo Zovko, the pastor, initially had great difficulties with this. But the Mother of God convinced him personally.
The seers and the pastor were persecuted by the communist authorities. It even costed Father Jozo one and a half year solitary detention in prison...

This cross on the Podbrdo (Apparition mountain) shows the site of the apparitions. Since 1933 the almost 9 m. high, concrete cross stands on the top of the Krizevac (Mountain of the Cross).

The statue of the Queen of Peace on the church square. It was carved out of Carrarian marble by the Italian artist Dino Felici.

PRAY

"I ask you only, to pray passionately. Prayer must be part of daily life so that true belief can flourish." (Sept. 8th '81)
"Start calling the Holy Spirit every day. The most important is praying to the Holy Spirit. When he descends on earth, everything shall become clear and everything shall change." (Advent '83)
"Let all families everyday devote themselves to the Sacred Heart. I am very happy if the whole family comes together every morning to pray for half an hour." (Oct. 20th '83)
"I urge all of you to pray the rosary. Invite people for that prayer. With the rosary you will overcome all difficulties which Satan puts in the way of the church. (June 25th '85)

HOLY MASS

"I invite you to attend the Holy Mass. (...) Dear children, I select you and Jesus will give you His graces during Holy Mass. Live therefore Holy Mass consciously and come to it full of joy. Come with love and receive Holy Mass as a grace." (April 3rd '86)

FAST

"The devil tries to get you in his power, but you must remain strong and persist in your belief. You must pray and fast. I shall always be near you. (Nov. '81) "The best way to fast is with water and bread. Through fasting and praying the wars can be stopped and the laws of nature can be suspended. Charity can not replace fasting. Those who are not able to fast, can replace this however by prayer, charity and confession, but all, except the sick, must fast." (Juli 21st '82)
"If you don't have the strength to fats on water and bread, you can give up other things. It would be very good not to watch television, because after you have seen the programmes, you are absent-minded and not able to pray. You can renounce alcohol, cigarettes and other pleasures. You know yourselves what you must do." (Dec. 8th '81)
At the moment there are many that fast each Wednesday and Friday on bread and water.

CONFESS

"People must be invited to confess each month, especially on the first Saturday. (...) The monthly confession shall be a medicine for the Church in the West. This message must be brought to the West." (Aug. 6th '82)

HOLY BIBLE

"Dear children, today I ask you to read every day the bible in the family. Put it in a clearly visible place in your home, so that it always encourages you to prayer.
Read each Thursday before the Holy Sacrament - or in the family if it is not possible to come to the church - chapter 6, verse 24-34 form the Gospel according to Matthew." (March 1st '84)

Jakov, Ivan and Marija during an apparition. The visionary Vicka receives again and again pilgrims with a special heartiness and endless patience.

The parish church of Medjugorje, dedicated to St. Jacob the Superior, during the daily evening celebration.

These and more than thousand other messages Mother Mary gave in Medjugorje for all people, wherever in the world. Each 25th of the month She gives a new message. In Belgium and Holland you can listen to that message i.a. on these telephone numbers:

• Belgium (Flanders): 03 - 2355091
• Netherlands: 0418 - 592288

PILGRIMAGES TO MEDJUGORJE

The "Vrienden van Medjugorje" (Friends of Medjugorje) in Hasselt (Belgium) and the "Stichting Vriendenkring Medjugorje-Nederland" (Foundation Friends of Medjugorje-Netherlands) in De Bilt (Netherlands) gladly provide you with all the names and addresses of organizations and persons who organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje.

BOOKS ON MEDJUGORJE

"Stichting Vriendenkring Medjugorje-Nederland", Postbus 287, 3730 AG De Bilt, Netherlands (tel. +31 - 30 - 2201581) has published:

• Boodschappen van moeder Maria in Medjugorje Messages of Mother Mary in Medjugorje). The only book in the whole Dutch language area with all, more than 900 messages up to and including April 25th 1991. (René Laurentin), 218 pages.

At publisher Tabor in Brugge (Belgium) have appeared i.a.:

• Medjugorje. Het verhaal en de boodschap van de verschijningen (Medjugorje. The story and the message of the apparitions) (René Laurentin), 184 pages.
• Ik zie Maria. Vraaggesprekken met de zieneres Vicka (I see Mary. Interviews with the visionary Vicka) (Janko Bubalo), 224 pages.
• Medjugorje. De oorlog dag na dag (Zr. Emmanuel) (Medjugorje. The war day after day (Sr. Emmanuel)), 194 pages.

PERIODICALS ON MEDJUGORJE

• Koningin van de Vrede (Queen of Peace). Bimonthly free magazine of the "Vrienden van Medjugorje", Hasseltsestraat 39, 3700 Tongeren (Belgium).

In Holland one can subscribe at "Stichting Vriendenkring Medjugorje-Nederland", De Bilt.

• Echo uit Medjugorje (Echo from Medjugorje). One can subscribe to this free monthly magazine at the "Nederlands-Belgisch Medjugorje-Comité", Misericordeplein 12C, 6211 XK Maastricht (Netherlands).