Medjugorje Visionaries

“I invite you. I need you. I chose you. You are important.”

Our Lady to the six visionaries, June 1981
“It was June 24, 1981, the Feast of John the Baptist, the proclaimer of the coming Messiah. In
the evening the Virgin Mary appeared to two young people, Mirjana Dragicevic * and Ivanka
Ivankovic.* The next day, four more young people, Marija Pavlovic,*
Jakov Colo, Vicka Ivankovic,* and Ivan Dragicevic saw the Virgin
Mary, bringing the total to six visionaries. These visionaries are not
related to one another. Three of the six visionaries no longer see Our
Lady on a daily basis. As of July, 2009, the Virgin is still appearing
everyday to the remaining three visionaries; that’s well over 12,820
apparitions
Our Lady specifically chose these six youth, whose ages ranged from ten-year-old Jakov to
seventeen-year-old Vicka when Our Lady first appeared.
The visionaries of Medjugorje carry a magnificent burden. They have been blessed with visions
from God, yet these visions show them a painful future for the world. No one asked these young
people if they wanted these apparitions, but they accepted them, and with them came
responsibility and suffering. Many people, including the visionaries themselves, have wondered
why Our Lady chose them particularly for these apparitions. The visionaries asked Our Lady
about this on one occasion. Ivanka relayed Our Lady’s response, “She said it’s not always
necessary to look for the best.” 2 Other visionaries have said that it was simply God’s will, or that
God allowed Our Lady to choose whom She wanted, and She chose these six.
Another amazing aspect related to these six visionaries is their names. The names Marija and
Mirjana both mean “Mary,” which is the Blessed Mother’s name. Ivanka and Ivan mean “John.”
Our Lady first appeared on June 24, 1981, which is the feast of John the Baptist. His message
was one of repentance and a declaration that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. John the
Baptist prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah. Vicka’s name means “life.” Our Lady
has revealed to Vicka Her life story, which Vicka is to make public when Our Lady tells her to
do so. Finally, Jakov’s name means “James.” The parish church in Medjugorje is St. James
parish. Clearly this is no coincidence, but rather something ordained by God.
Our Lady also revealed Herself to a young girl named Jelena Vasilj *, who is not part of the
group of the original six visionaries, but Jelena “sees” Our Lady in a different manner than the
visionaries. The messages Jelena received differ from those the visionaries receive, but they are
nonetheless an important part of Our Lady’s coming in Medjugorje.
learn more about each visionary’s individual relationship with Our Lady and their particular role
in Her plans from Medjugorje.
MIRJANA DRAGICEVIC
“…if you were able to see just once the tears on Our Lady’s face because of unbelievers, I am so
certain that you would pray from the bottom of your heart.” 1 - Mirjana
Mirjana was 16 years old at the time the apparitions began (born on March 18, 1965). Her home
was in Sarajevo, where she lived with her parents, but she would spend her summers in
Medjugorje visiting her grandparents who were from there. It was she, along with Ivanka
Ivankovic, on June 24, 1981, who first saw Our Lady.
 In September 1981, several of the visionaries left
Medjugorje because of school (though they still returned
to the village frequently). Mirjana, with an above average
intelligence, pursued a college degree in Sarajevo and
became the only visionary to complete such an education.
However, it was when she fully decided on this course to
take in her life that her daily apparitions ceased. She
relayed that had she not chosen college, Our Lady perhaps
would have still continued to appear to her daily. In an
interview with Fr. Tomislav Vlasic on January 10, 1983,
Mirjana said:
“I asked Her (Our Lady) why She would no longer appear to me, after such a long time, and She
explained that because I had decided to continue my schooling, I must learn to live my life
without Her direct help and advice. She told me that I’m no different from any other young
person, any other girl, and that I must live accordingly.”
Mirjana was referring to the meeting of December 24, 1982, when Our Lady announced to her
that the following day would be her last apparition, though she would see Our Lady on her
birthday each year, on March 18th, until her death. Mirjana was devastated to receive, not only
this news, but it was in this apparition that she was given the 10th and last secret. Our Lady
encouraged her to be courageous and assured her that whenever she was in a crisis, Our Lady
would come to her.
“Now you will have to turn to God in the faith like any other person. I will appear to you
on the day of your birthday and when you will experience difficulties in life. Mirjana, I
have chosen you; I have confided in you everything that is essential. I have also shown you
many terrible things. You must now bear it all with courage. Think of Me and think of the
tears I must shed for that. You must remain courageous. You have quickly grasped the
messages. You must also understand now that I have to go away. Be courageous.”
Mirjana went into a deep depression, but in time, gradually learned to accept and live her life
without the consolation of seeing Our Lady every day. It was to Mirjana that Our Lady first
entrusted all 10 secrets, some of which involve chastisements for the world. She was told to
choose a priest to whom, when the time came, she would confide the secrets. It is up to the priest
to make the secrets public. Mirjana was so afraid that she would not be able to remember all the
dates and times that are contained in the secrets, and so Our Lady gave her a parchment-type
material upon which all the secrets were written. Only Mirjana is able to read what is written
there. A priest friend once questioned Mirjana as to why Our Lady would afford her the grace to
appear to her when she was in trouble or a crisis, when all other people must go through
difficulties without such a grace. Mirjana replied, “Father, I am not speaking of the ordinary
problems of my life. My difficult moments stem from the secrets concerning the future of the
world, which Our Lady revealed to me. At times, I can hardly cope with it when I seriously think
of it. In those moments, Our Lady appears and gives me strength and courage to go on with my
life.” 3
Shortly after the ending of her daily apparitions, Mirjana began to experience Our Lady in her
prayers in a very different way. She began hearing and seeing Our Lady interiorly. Through
these interior locutions, Our Lady would have Mirjana pray with Her for non-believers. It is to
Mirjana that Our Lady entrusted all non-believers in her prayer as well as the responsibility to
reveal, at the chosen time, the ten secrets. Our Lady taught a prayer to Mirjana (as well as to
Vicka), to be prayed for non-believers. Our Lady defined a non-believer as someone who has yet
to know or experience the love of God. Mirjana and Vicka are the only two visionaries who were
given knowledge of this secret prayer. When Our Lady gives permission for these prayers to be
released, we, as believers will also have the grace to learn and pray them. Mirjana said that this
prayer is something like the Rosary, meaning that there are beads that one holds in their hand and
follow with their fingers. It is a gift from Heaven that will release a great outpouring of mercy
upon non-believers around the world. Mirjana already prays this prayer with Our Lady in their
visits together.
On August 2, 1987, the interior locutions turned into apparitions, on
the second of every month. These apparitions were private and not
known until Mirjana announced that Our Lady wanted these
apparitions to be made public. February 2, 1997 was Mirjana’s first
public apparition and since this time, every month on the 2nd, several
thousand pilgrims gather with Mirjana to be with Our Lady and to pray
for non-believers. Anyone who is in Medjugorje on the second of the
month can be present with Our Lady in the apparitions, which are
currently held at the Blue Cross on the base of Apparition Hill. To see
Mirjana’s face during the apparitions is to bring to reality the times in
which we live, the seriousness of these apparitions and the tremendous
burden that rests upon this one woman’s shoulders. In fact, it truly is
the weight of a sinful and unbelieving world.
Mirjana is now married, with two daughters. She married Marco Soldo, nephew of Fr. Slavko
Barbaric, on September 16, 1989, whom she had known since childhood.
IVANKA IVANKOVIC
he [Our Lady] has come here to Medjugorje to call all people on earth to Her Son, Jesus, to His
ways, for the last time.” 1 - Ivanka

Ivanka is the youngest of the girl visionaries. Born on June 21,

1966, she was 15 years old when the apparitions began. Her
father was away, working in Germany. Ivanka’s mother had
died in May 1981, a month before the apparitions began. On
June 24th, Ivanka was the first to see Our Lady. She was also
the first to speak to Her, which happened on the following day,
when Ivanka asked about her mother, for whom she was still
greatly grieving. Our Lady responded by saying:
“She is happy. She is with me.”
Ivanka was described as pretty, with a serene but shy
countenance. She was the second visionary, after Mirjana, to receive her 10th secret, signifying
the end of her daily apparitions. On May 6, 1985, Ivanka remained in ecstasy, while the
apparition of the other three visionaries with her ended sooner. They were astounded to see
Ivanka’s expression, realizing she was still seeing Our Lady. None of the visionaries had ever
seen each other in ecstasy before. They watched in wonder, with all those present, until Ivanka’s
eyes drifted upward, signifying the end of her apparition. They all learned afterwards, much to
Ivanka’s grief, that the next day would be Our Lady’s last daily meeting with her. On May 7,
1985 Our Lady appeared with two angels in Ivanka’s home. On that day, Our Lady told Ivanka
that:
“No one in the world has had the grace which you, your brothers, and sisters have
received.” (meaning the six visionaries)
In this last apparition, Our Lady asked Ivanka if she had a wish. Ivanka replied she would like to
see her mother. This has been a request Our Lady has fulfilled for Ivanka on four separate
occasions over the years. When Ivanka describes her favorite of these special visits, tears spring
to her eyes as she remembers the joy of that moment.
“The third time was so happy. I had completed a difficult assignment for the Blessed Mother. As
a reward, She brought my mother to me. I had seen her two other times, but the third time she
came over to me, and embraced me and said, ‘Dearest Ivanka, I’m so proud of you!’ 2
Early descriptions of Ivanka described her as superficial, like a typical teenager, but more so than
the other visionaries. Many years later, Ivanka herself admitted to having thought a great deal
about fashion. “Before the Blessed Mother began to appear to me, I thought of it often. As my
prayer life grew, following fashion became boring.” 3 Our Lady confirmed that Ivanka had
matured in the spiritual life and that She was pleased by her efforts. Our Lady spoke these words
to Ivanka the day of her final daily apparition (May 7, 1985):
“With all your heart you have accepted the plans which my Son and I formulated, and you
have accomplished everything.”
As She did with Mirjana and Jakov, Our Lady gave to Ivanka a gift that would help to sustain her
in this life after her daily apparitions ceased. She would be able to see Our Lady once a year, on
the anniversary of the apparitions, June 25th, for the rest of
her life.
Ivanka married Raiko Elez on December 28, 1986, the Feast
of the Holy Family. She was the first visionary to marry.
There were many who expected all the visionaries to enter
the religious life. And yet, Our Lady had made it very clear
to all of them that they had freedom in deciding their
vocations. Now that all the visionaries have married, it
would appear that the world is in need of witnesses to holy
family life. Today, Raiko and Ivanka have three children.

VICKA IVANKOVIC
“Our Lady said, unfortunately, there are many, many people who believe when life on earth is
over then everything is over. This is the greatest mistake. We are just passengers on earth.” 1 -
Vicka

Vicka was born on September 3, 1964 in Bijakovici. She was 16 years old when the apparitions
began, making her the oldest visionary. She is one of eight children in her family and is
described as strong-willed, full of energy, courageous, outspoken, and fearless. Most know
Vicka from the beautiful smile that continuously spreads across her face for the pilgrims who
come to listen to her speak. She is always cheerful and joyful and is the most expressive in the
apparitions, which has made her the most interesting visionary to watch.
In September 1981, several of the visionaries left Medjugorje to attend
various schools. This, too, was Vicka’s plan, but Our Lady said it was
not good for all to leave. Our Lady asked Vicka to stay at home and look
after young Jakov, who was still attending primary school. Vicka readily
agreed and her daily life then became that of a peasant woman who
worked regularly in the fields. She discovered, however, that her time
would become more and more taken up with the tens of thousands of
pilgrims who were pouring into Medjugorje, week after week, as people
from around the world began discovering the reported events taking
place in the village. Often times, pilgrims showed up at her house as
early as 6 a.m., and as they left, new ones arrived. Sometimes there
would not be even time enough to stop and eat, and yet her patience and smile were constant and
steadfast. With the other visionaries often gone and Jakov too young for such responsibility,
Vicka took upon herself the burden of being Our Lady’s witness to the multitudes who came
looking to understand the truth behind the events of the apparitions.
Our Lady, on a surprise visit, took Vicka and Jakov with Her to visit Heaven, Purgatory and hell.
Vicka was moved to great compassion for the souls in Purgatory. Vicka asked Our Lady if there
was something she could do to help them, if she could offer herself for their expiation. Our Lady
accepted her offer when She was certain Vicka understood the seriousness of what she was
asking. Shortly afterwards, a mysterious illness afflicted Vicka, causing her to suffer from
extremely painful headaches and high fevers that were so severe, she would often fall into
comas.2 Often during these episodes, she was semi-conscious and obviously suffering,3 though
she always would awaken a few minutes before Our Lady’s apparition each evening and appear
smiling and happy. At one point, her mother begged Vicka to ask Our Lady to cure her, but
Vicka responded that if her mother knew how much good her suffering was doing for the poor
souls, she would not ask this of her.4 In January 1988, Our Lady told Vicka her suffering would
soon come to an end, giving her the exact date her illness would disappear, though she was to tell
the date to no one with the exception of her confessor. The commission investigating the
apparitions was given the date in a sealed envelope. On September 25, 1988, the headaches and
symptoms disappeared, never to return. Members of the commission, upon opening the envelope,
discovered the same date therein. Through these years of carrying this cross, Our Lady brought
Vicka through the school of suffering, an education that has helped countless individuals learn
how to accept suffering with joy. She became a witness not only for all those who carry the cross
of physical illnesses or handicaps, but for all people who carry a cross, whatever shape or form it
may come in. Our Lady has often asked Vicka to offer up other sufferings as well, the most
difficult being to give up her daily apparitions for extended periods of time. This has been asked
of Vicka on several occasions over the years. She suffers these times of not seeing Our Lady for
specific intentions that Our Lady has asked of her.

Vicka is also the visionary to whom Our Lady chose to reveal Her life story. Though all the
visionaries were given glimpses of Our Lady’s life on Earth, it was given for them only, not to be
shared. But to Vicka, Our Lady instructed her to keep a careful record of these special dictations,
given from January 7, 1982 to April 10, 1985. She is not allowed to show anyone the notebooks
that contain Our Lady’s life story until she receives from Our Lady the date upon which they can
be released.5

After twenty years of devoted service to Medjugorje pilgrims,

Vicka married on January 26, 2002 at the age of 37. She and her
husband and two children now live in Gruda, a small village a few
miles north of Medjugorje. Vicka’s life is more private now,
though she still makes herself available to pilgrims from time to
time. She continues to see Our Lady every day in the apparitions,
has received nine secrets, and awaits the 10th, along with Marija
and Ivan. She, no doubt, continues to suffer for the plans of Our
Lady to be fulfilled, though we will never know for certain, as that
smile will always hide the cross that she carries.
MARIJA PAVLOVIC
“To experience the beauty of Our Lady’s love, and to know that it is that love which gives itself
to you, is the most beautiful thing in life.” 1 - Marija

Marija comes from a family of eight, with three brothers and two
sisters. She grew up at the foot of Apparition Mountain, just down the
road from Vicka’s house. She was born on April 1, 1965, and was 16
when the apparitions began. Marija is described in all the books of
Medjugorje as deeply spiritual, prayerful, meek, sensitive and humble.
Rarely do you read of the wonderful sense of humor Marija possesses
or her radiant joy, or her ability to make total strangers feel as though
they are really long lost friends. These attributes are just as much a part
of Marija’s character as the prayerfulness and serenity that have always been told about her.
On March 1, 1984, Our Lady began giving, every Thursday evening, a weekly message for the
parish of Medjugorje. It was Marija through whom Our Lady entrusted these messages for the
parish. Through these messages, Our Lady desired to spiritually form the parish because of the
special role it would play in helping to bring conversion to all the people who would come to
Medjugorje from all over the world. Eventually, this weekly message evolved into the monthly
message for the world, given on the 25th of each month. It was January 25, 1987, when the first
monthly message was given from Our Lady. Marija is the only visionary who receives the 25th
message. It stays within her memory only until she writes it down. After it is written, she no
longer can repeat the message word for word. Marija has said that satan causes “great confusion”
in her life on the 25th of each month. He strikes back at the one who delivers Our Lady’s healing
words to a sick world. This gives evidence that Our Lady’s words each month are causing havoc
to satan’s evil designs for the world.
As Our Lady began to initiate the parish of Medjugorje into an intense spiritual life through the
young visionaries, Marija began to feel the pull to the religious life. She, with Ivan, under the
direction of Our Lady, began a prayer group of young people, and through the years Our Lady
led them towards a profound love of Jesus and the Holy Mass. It was the decision of Marija to
enter a religious order, but as she began to look at possible orders to join, she began to realize
that to accept the Rule of the orders meant she would lose the freedom to openly witness to the
apparitions and spread Our Lady’s messages. In her heart, there was no question of what her
responsibility was in regards to being a chosen witness of the apparitions in Medjugorje. She
could not join a religious order if it meant having to stop spreading the messages of Our Lady.
Also, as Our Lady’s plan became clearer to the visionaries, they began to understand that
vocations to the religious life were best filled by those who were raised in holy families. With
holy families there will never be a lack of good and plentiful vocations. Our Lady also spoke in
Her messages about returning to the beginnings, or the foundations. John Paul II said that if a
religious order is languishing and needs to be restored, the members should return to the order’s
founding. All vocations materialize from the family, which is the “foundation.” Good, solid
families birth good, solid vocations. The crisis of so many wrecked vocations can generally be
traced back to disordered and dysfunctional family life or no family life at all.
With Our Lady’s guidance, it was at that point that Marija became opened to marriage for the
first time. She eventually did marry a young man from Milano, Italy, who had been a good friend
of hers for approximately five years. Their wedding took place on September 8, 1993. They live
in Monza, Italy, but are often in Medjugorje, especially during the summer months. Paolo and
Marija have four young sons, all whom were given Marija as their middle name: Michele Marija,
Francesco Marija, Marco Marija, and Giovanni Marija. It is interesting that Marija ended up
marrying an Italian man, as one of the more incredible gifts Our Lady gave to her early in the
apparitions was, in an instant, the ability to understand and fluently speak native Italian. She
received it in an apparition on her birthday. Marija entered the apparition without being able to
speak fluent Italian, Our Lady gave Her the gift of the language, and Marija left the apparition
speaking it better than one who has studied to learn to speak it as a language. It is like a native
language for her!
Another great grace Our Lady has bestowed upon the world through Marija is the Special
Blessing. It is a blessing of conversion that once we receive it, helps to lead us towards
conversion our entire life. Our Lady once said that conversion is a process that ends only after
we die. The gift of this blessing is that we can pass the blessing on to others, and it will help
them in the same way it helps those who have already received it. No other visionary was given
knowledge of the Special Blessing. Only Marija has details concerning it, just as only Mirjana
and Vicka were given the special prayers for non-believers. *see below
The Special Blessing helps Our Lady reach hearts that in many ways are unreachable, but
through an act of love from one of Her children who is moved to bestow Her blessing upon
them, it is enough to open a heart to grace. Marija, in an interview with A Friend of Medjugorje
on July 20, 2008, said Our Lady wants the Special Blessing to be used. She wants it to change
our mentality that we, as laity, should understand we are to bless others. She wants us to do this
through Her Special Blessing.
Of all of Marija’s gifts, one who is close to her believes the gift that Our Lady has given her
above all others is the gift of “love.” Our Lady has given Her love specifically five different
times in known messages ,as of July 2009, and three of these five times have occurred at Caritas
in Alabama. The first time Our Lady gave Her love at Caritas was in the Bedroom of Apparitions
before the Community began. During the apparition, the host family and those present felt love
intensely. After the apparition, Marija relayed Our Lady’s message:
“Dear children, I give you my love, so you give it to others.” December 3, 1988
“Marija’s voice was beautiful, gentle, full of love and intensity when she talked about the
apparition just after Our Lady left. All felt Our Lady’s presence and sensed that She was happy
in a special way. Those gathered really felt Our Lady gave them Her love.” Love filled the room
so much that “One witness said he felt as though love permeated even the walls of the
Bedroom.” 2
The other two times, also were in the Bedroom, in which Our Lady gave a message saying She
was giving Her love.

Marija seems to be an extension of Our Lady’s love to the world. Marija gave insight to this
when Fr. Slavko asked her to choose the most beautiful
and the most difficult of all messages. She told him that
once she had asked Our Lady if She had something
concrete to give her. Our Lady answered,
“Yes, I give you my love, so that you give it to others.”
Marija then said to Fr. Slavko, “To experience the beauty
of Our Lady’s love, and to know that it is that love which
gives itself to you, is the most beautiful thing in life. But,
when I try to love others and try to give that love to them,
then that is difficult and I often feel shame for my
insufficiencies to love in the light of Our Lady’s all
encompassing motherly love.” He asked her, then what
can be done? Marija responded, “I pray every day that I
may be all the more open to this love of Our Lady, and
that I may be able to pass it onto every person, and I pray
for others that they may be able to feel this love and in
turn give it to others. We are so far from loving one another and this is a sign that we are also
far from God’s love. And the closer we are to God’s love, the easier we will be able to live that
love and bear witness to others.”

IVAN DRAGICEVIC
“There is no living Church without living families. There is no call to the priesthood, no
vocations in the Church if there is no family prayer. In the family, God comes to call and He
invites. This is where priests are born.” 1 - Ivan
Ivan, born May 25, 1965, was 16-years-old when the apparitions
began, and typical of a boy his age, was not particularly pious.
However, four days after the first apparitions his mother found a
rosary in his pants pocket.2 The apparitions forged a complete
change in him. Ivan is one of the three visionaries who continue to
have daily apparitions and has been given nine secrets. When
speaking to pilgrims, Ivan shares the valuable information Our Lady
has given him to help man find God. Ivan’s answers to the pilgrims
are truly insightful and inspired. He speaks with quiet confidence
and often appears serious, though he has a wonderful sense of humor
that comes through from time to time. He testifies to what he has
been taught through the years by Our Lady without any anxiousness
for people to believe what he says is true. His attitude seems to be
that each has the choice to believe or not to believe, and eventually all will know the truth, one
way or another.
Ivan entered the seminary shortly after the apparitions began but experienced great difficulties,
not only academically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. “During the time I spent in the
‘Little Seminary’ in Dubrovnik, I suffered very much, truly, very much, because of my relations
with my colleagues and professors. (Those in the seminary did not believe Ivan was seeing Our
Lady and so he was constantly mocked and scorned.) Regarding all the problems I had then, Our
Lady said, “Don’t worry. I will guide you through your life.” 3 Our Lady then asked Ivan if he
wished Her to show him his future. “She revealed my future to me—until my death. My personal
future is my secret. Only I know it. First, Our Lady asked me whether or not She should tell me.
I’m sorry Our Lady revealed my personal future to me. [But] I’m content now and not afraid,
because I know who guided me. Now, I look to the Mother who guides me, and I live in complete
contentment.”
Our Lady has spoken and given instruction to Ivan about today’s family and the youth and those
things that hurt and attack them.
In one interview, Ivan stated that Our Lady has asked him to write a
book, with Her help, about the disease of materialism, which he says
is destroying the beauty of God’s people and the world that He
created. The book, he said, will be released “as soon as the Blessed
Mother says.” 5 Interestingly enough, Ivan married an American girl
from Massachusetts, Laureen Murphy, who is a former Miss
Massachusetts. Laureen experienced conversion through Medjugorje,
which eventually led to her meeting Ivan. Since their marriage, Ivan
lives with his wife and children half of the year in the United States
and half the year in Medjugorje. Living within the culture of America
has, no doubt, given Ivan a greater understanding of the evils of materialism than if he had
remained within the region and culture in which he was born.
Through the direction of Our Lady, Ivan, with Marija, started a prayer group of young people,
who began meeting twice a week on Apparition Hill or Cross Mountain. During the prayer group
meetings, Our Lady would normally appear to the visionaries giving messages and instructions.
She asked them to offer their prayers for the fulfillment of her plans for the world. Although
most refer to the prayer group as “Ivan’s prayer group,” Ivan states that it is Our Lady who is the
leader of the group. Tens of thousands, if not millions of pilgrims have joined this small prayer
group up on the mountains throughout the years. It is a great joy of Our Lady to see so many
come. As in the message below, She has often stated how happy She is to see everyone gathered
in such large numbers.
June 22, 1996
“Dear children, I am happy tonight when I see you in such a large number. Dear children,
I wish to tell you that I carry you all in my heart and that I placed you all in my heart. I
wish to invite you, especially in this time, to pray more. Dear children, I need your
prayers.”
Those who come to Medjugorje while Ivan is there have the opportunity to be present at a prayer
group meeting with Our Lady; an experience one remembers their entire life. The prayer group,
which began on July 4, 1982, has been meeting for 27 years. Our Lady has said that every person
in the world should belong to a prayer group. “Prayer groups,” Ivan said, “are a protection from
the triumph of satan.”
JAKOV COLO
“Hell is the ultimate waste because no one needs to go there.” 1 - Jakov
Jakov, the youngest visionary, was only 10 years old when the apparitions
began. His birthday is March 16, 1971. When he was eight years old, his
father abandoned the family, of which he was the only child. He was left an
orphan at the age of 12 when his mother died. After her death, he moved
into the home of his uncle.
It is Jakov who steals the heart when looking at old pictures of the
visionaries in ecstasy from the first years of the apparitions. For many, it is
he who convinced them the apparitions were real, as any normal 10-year-old
boy would consider it impossible to have to endure three hours of prayer, on
their knees, every single night, year after year, without any break in the
routine. If the apparitions had been a trick or a lie conceived by the so-called
visionaries, young Jakov would have broke long ago—and yet, it is said of
him that he was the most faithful in attendance to the evening prayer
services than any other visionary.
To Vicka, who was with Jakov more than the other visionaries, she believed there was something
special about Jakov in his relationship with Our Lady, though it was a mystery even to her.
When asked by her confessor why Our Lady chose little Jakov, Vicka said:
“I can’t say that I know that. But none of you really know the little guy! I always remember how
the Virgin at the very start said: ‘The rest of you go, and let little Jakov remain with me.’ That is
an unusual boy.” 2
Today, Jakov is a quiet and thoughtful man. He married, at
the age of 22, Annalisa Barozzi, a young woman from
Mantova, Italy. They have three children and reside in
Medjugorje. Though Jakov was given a great deal of
suffering at an early age, especially in the loss of his mother,
while coping with all the difficulties the apparitions had
brought into his life, nothing prepared him for the
announcement made to him by Our Lady on September 11,
1998. Jakov was in the United States at the time, in Miami,
Florida, to speak at a conference. Our Lady appeared and
told him that the next day would be his last apparition. On September 12th, Our Lady confided to
him his 10th secret. In his deep sorrow, Our Lady gave to him a gift, telling him that She would
appear to him on Christmas Day every year until the end of his life. On that day, not only does he
see Our Lady, but he receives the added joy of being in the presence of the Infant Jesus. Perhaps
this is a special consolation given to Her youngest visionary because of all he had suffered
already in his life. But even so, for Jakov, who grew up with Our Lady and certainly felt Her
more deeply as his Mother after he was left alone in the world, he was devastated.
Long before his daily apparitions ended, when he was asked to speak of Heaven, “he said if he
thought of Heaven too much, he would die of loneliness.” 3 What then must he suffer to no longer
have the comfort of Our Lady’s apparitions each day? In time, Jakov began to learn how to
experience Our Lady in his heart without the joy of Her apparition. He had a realization in
prayer, after several months of struggle, that he was now like all other people, who must live
their lives without seeing Our Lady. This apparently has helped give him the strength to endure
his suffering. Remembering the last words of Our Lady to him that day (September 12, 1998)
must also bring him much solace.
“Do not be sad, because as a mother I will always be with you and like every true mother I
will never leave you.”
When asked about his future, Jakov says nothing. Out of the six visionaries, he is the only one
who would not say whether he would be alive when the permanent sign comes. Vicka, Mirjana,
Ivan, Marija and Ivanka all have said they will be alive. Concerning himself, Jakov says only
that it is a secret.
JELENA VASILJ AND MARIJANA VASILJ

“The family is the first prayer group, and actually the best prayer group.” 1 - Jelena

When the Blessed Mother began appearing in 1981, while other children their age were out
playing, Jelena Vasilj was praying to Our Lady. Jelena is not one of the original six visionaries,
but was to receive a different gift from Our Lady.
Jelena grew up in a very devout family. Her father had built a family
chapel in their home even before the apparitions began, and gathered
his family together for prayer that he led on a daily basis. Jakov Colo,
the youngest of the visionaries was just a year older than Jelena, and
attended the same school. The experience of the apparitions
profoundly impacted, not only Jelena, but also her entire family. They
did their best, as a family, to respond to the requests Our Lady was
making through the visionaries.
At just ten years old in December of 1982, Jelena began to hear Our
Lady’s voice and see Her in an interior way, which she describes as
“intense presence of Mary… an experience of the heart,” 2 or as seeing the Blessed Mother with
“the eyes of the heart.” 3 These experiences are called “interior locutions.” Several months later
in March of 1983, Jelena’s friend Marijana Vasilj (the two are friends but are not related) began
to see Our Lady interiorly as well. Both girls hear Our Lady’s voice and see Her in two
dimensions.
Jelena once asked Our Lady if she could know the ten secrets. Our Lady
replied to her with these words:
“I do not appear to you as to the other six because my plan is
different. To them I entrusted messages and secrets. Forgive me if I
cannot tell you the secrets which I have entrusted to them. This is a
grace which is for them, but not for you. I appeared to you for the
purpose of helping you to progress in spiritual life and through your
intermediary I want to lead people to holiness.” December 29, 1982
Our Lady soon asked the two girls to bring together other young people
within the parish who would respond to her invitation to join in a prayer group that Our Lady
would lead through Jelena and Marijana.*
Jelena and Marijana’s messages are different from the messages of the other visionaries as they
specifically relate to the teachings and guidance of this group who committed themselves to
living intensely the messages of Our lady and to be used by Her for Her purposes. As both girls
were young, the prayer group stayed together for many years, being assisted by Fr. Tomislav
Vlasic and Fr. Slavko Barbaric. Eventually, after graduating from secondary school, Jelena came
to the United States to attend Steubenville University, and later a University in Rome, while
Marijana married and settled in a village near Medjugorje. Their interior locutions began to
diminish until they eventually stopped altogether.
The messages of Our Lady through Jelena continue to give support and guidance to people
around the world who seek to understand from Our Lady how to live a profound spiritual life.
Among the most powerful words given by Our Lady to Jelena are the consecrations to the Heart
of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary given on November 28, 1983.
Jelena is a beautiful, graceful and articulate woman with a deep desire to continue to live and
share all the spiritual treasures Our Lady opened up to her in her life. For years she had
abandoned her future into God’s hands, and prayed to know His will in regards to her future
vocation, keeping herself open to wherever God would lead her. She was always very open and
honest with pilgrims who questioned her about this process, a process that can be painful at
times. Jelena married in 2002 and has four children. Jelena is the more visible of the two interior
locutionists, as she at times gives talks to pilgrims and gives interviews in which she tells of her
encounters with Our Lady and shares the wisdom that Our Lady has imparted to her about
personal holiness. Marijana, on the other hand, remains somewhat private, but she can still be
seen from time to time talking to pilgrims, filling in, in a sense, when the six main visionaries are
not available to speak to pilgrims.
Both women have carried Our Lady’s lessons in holiness from the beginning days when they
were young, single, and free from the obligations of married life into the realms of wifehood and
motherhood. This spiritual direction received in their youth is instrumental in helping them to
live the fullness of their vocations now. It is amazing to see the wisdom and growth in those to
whom Our Lady has appeared. Jelena’s more recent interviews reflect a deep and mature
spirituality that is evident in her words. She relayed in an interview in 2005,
“I would say that prayer must dilate the heart; and that often the heart is instead closed. Love is
missing. The wine is missing, like at Cana. Gradually, one tires along the journey. We have to
trust Our Lady; believe that She told us the truth; and we shouldn’t doubt, or lose our faith. I see
that often people feel isolated, as if deciding for God meant withdrawal. Instead, when you
decide for God, you enter into the heart of the world.” 4

BEGINNING DAYS OF THE APPARITIONS

Day One of the Apparitions
June 24, 1981, Feast of St. John the Baptist
It was on June 24, 1981, the Feast of St. John the Baptist, that Our Lady was first seen, on that
now famous small mountain, known as Podbrdo, overlooking the parish of Medjugorje. Two
young friends, Ivanka Ivankovic, 15 years old, and Mirjana Dragicevic, 16 years old, were the
first to see her. Ivanka was born in the small hamlet at the foot of Podbrdo, but was living in
Mostar at the time, and Mirjana’s family was from Sarajevo, but was visiting her grandparents
who lived in Medjugorje. Ivanka describes the event as it began:
“We were together in my house, Mirjana and myself, and we
went for a walk. When we were returning home, for some
reason I looked toward the hill and saw a bright figure. I said,
‘Mirjana, look, the Madonna!’ Mirjana waved her hand and
said, ‘Come on! You think the Madonna would appear to us!’
And we continued on our way home.”1
Both had been frightened; Ivanka by what she had seen,
Mirjana by the look on Ivanka’s face and her claim to have
seen the Blessed Mother. As they approached the houses in
the village, they ran into Milka Pavlovic, 12 years old, who
asked their help in getting her sheep and bringing them home.
This meant the girls would have to return to where they had
Ivanka Ivankovic was 15-years- just been.
old the first time she saw Our
Lady. Having just lost her “The time was about six-fifteen. When they reached the spot
mother two months earlier, she where Ivanka had looked up and seen the mysterious figure,
quickly felt loved and the girl again cried, ‘Look, there she is.’ Mirjana and Milka,
intimately connected with the following her pointing finger to a distance of 656 ft (200
Mother of Mothers, Our Lady. meters) or so, saw a young woman in gray, holding something
in her hand which she seemed to be protecting. ‘She was a
long way away,’ says Ivanka. ‘We couldn’t see her close … just the outline of her body.’ ‘We
couldn’t see her face,’ confirms Mirjana, ‘and anyway, we didn’t know what the Madonna would
really look like! But something inside us insisted that it was the Madonna. We knew it was her,
but we felt confused, and just stood there looking at her.’ Ivanka agrees: ‘We didn’t know what
to do, where to put ourselves. We felt a mixture of joy and fear. So much joy, yet so much fear,
it’s impossible to describe it.”
Earlier in the day, Mirjana and Ivanka had gone to Vicka Ivankovic’s house (no relation to
Ivanka) to invite her to join them on their walk. Vicka, 17 years old, was resting, but her mother
told the two friends that she would give Vicka the message to join them later. Vicka recounted
what happened next.

“I went to look for Ivanka and Mirjana, because every summer we are together all the time.
When I reached the road where they were, I noticed they were waving with their hands and
calling me to come. I was wearing slippers. When I got to where they were, Mirjana said: ‘Look
up there. The Madonna!’ I said: ‘What do you mean, the Madonna? What is the matter with
you?’ I did not even look—did not take the time to bother to look.

“I kicked off my slippers and ran barefooted toward (the village)…On my way back, I met Ivan
Dravicevic (16 years old, who is no relation to Mirjana) and Ivan Ivankovic (20 years old, who is
no relation to Vicka or Ivanka). They were picking apples, and asked me if I wanted some. I said
no, and then I said: ‘Ivan (Dravicevic), the Madonna…they said that the Madonna has appeared
up there. Let’s go there you and me. I’m afraid.’ Ivan said: ‘Of course we’ll go, but why are you
afraid?’ I thought: He’s not afraid. But when we got there, I turned toward Ivan and asked, ‘Do
you see anything?’ He was gone. I saw him running away.
“Then I asked Ivan Ivankovic: ‘Do you see anything?’ He said: ‘I see something completely
white, turning.’
“The little sister of Marija (Milka), was with us then, and I asked her if she saw anything. She
said: ‘I see the Madonna.’
“When I went up there the first time, I stood a little distance from them. I was afraid. But when I
went the second time, I said to myself: If they are not running away, I will not run away either.
“This was after 6:30 in the evening. It was raining a little and beginning to get dark.
“I saw it…and what I saw was very white. I saw a gown, dark hair. All the time, She was
covering and uncovering something She held in Her left hand. I was not able to see what else
She was doing, but it looked like She was showing something. Then She called to us to come
closer…but who was going to get any closer? We were saying to each other: ‘She is calling us,
but who is going to go?’3
Coming home that night, they recounted their experience to family and friends, though few
believed them and many laughed. Vicka said, “There was real commotion. Some perhaps
believed, some wondered, some explained it away as some kind of ‘flying saucer.’ And the like.
Why, everything conceivable was said.” She added later, “How could they be expected to believe
us? In their place, I wouldn’t have believed us either.”4
Mirjana’s experience was the same. She said,
“There was incredible light. The Blessed Mother held baby Jesus
in Her arms, covering and uncovering Him as She called to us. It
was overwhelming! We are from a small village, not like young
people from America or Europe. The girls here have never been
anywhere away from home. Home, school, family-this is our
life.”5
When asked how did she know it was the Madonna, Mirjana
replied,
“My whole being knew without a doubt that this Lady of
unexplainable beauty was the Mother of God. That is why I had
such fear.”6
In fact, during the first days of the apparitions, both Mirjana and Mirjana Dragicevic was 16
Ivanka fainted many times. When asked why, Mirjana said, “I when she first saw Our Lady.
was quite overwhelmed to be in the holy presence of the Mother From that first day, June 24,
of God.”7 1981, the rest of her life would
The next day the children were expected to be up at dawn to help be turned over to Our Lady’s
harvest the leaves from the large tobacco plants in their fields, so plans.
all went to bed. But to those who had seen the vision, sleep did
not come easily. And so ended the first day.
 Day Two of the Apparitions

June 25, 1981

The Anniversary of the Apparitions
Feast of Our Lady Queen of Peace

Twelve-year-old Milka
Pavlovic saw the Virgin Mary
on June 24, 1981, while
searching for her sheep. This
would be the only time Milka
saw Our Lady, for the next day
it was her sister, Marija who the Blessed Mother calling to them to come up the mountain.
became one of the six
visionaries.
Vlasic, continues to tell the story.
The children, who had seen the vision the day before, spent this
day working in the fields. As they finished their work, a little
earlier than usual, four of them decided to see if Our Lady would
return: Ivanka, Mirjana, Vicka and Ivan Dragicevic. Mirjana said,
“I felt in my heart that I must go back. Interestingly, the others
felt the same way too…We didn’t plan it. We just all, about the
same time, felt an immense desire to go back to that place.”8 The
older Ivan wasn’t interested in returning and Milka could not go
as she had been asked by her mother to stay behind and take care
of the sheep. Milka’s older sister, Marija, who was 16 years old,
asked Vicka to come and get 10 year old Jakov Colo and herself
if she should happen to see the vision again. Marija told Vicka,
“If you see the Madonna, I would just like to be there. I do not
have to see Her.9 Little Jakov had told Mirjana that: ‘he too
would want to see Her more than anything else in the world.’
That’s why he came on the second day.”10A few curious adults
and some children followed along. Mirjana stated that when they
arrived at the road where they had been yesterday that they heard
“…She waved to us. We were at the foot of the hill. She was
calling us to come to Her.”11Vicka, in an interview with Fr.

“It was approximately 6:00pm. We went a little earlier. Mirjana and I

were walking together, talking to each other. Ivanka was right in front
of us. Suddenly she turned and said: ‘Look, the Madonna!’ She saw her
first. Then Mirjana and I looked where Ivanka had looked, and we both
cried out: ‘The Madonna-It is She!’ It was still daylight and I was able
to see her face, eyes, hair, and gown. I was able to recognize
everything. We were down on the road and did not know what to do. I
went to call Marija and Jakov. They came immediately….

“The Madonna called to us to go up on the hill, and we went. When you

look up from the bottom of the hill, it looks close, but it is not. We ran
quickly up the hill. It was not like walking on the ground. Nor did we Vicka Ivankovic was 17-
look for the path. We simply ran toward Her. In five minutes we were on years-old when chosen by
the hill-as if something had pulled us through the air. I was afraid. I God to be one of the six
also was barefoot, but no thorns had scratched me…. visionaries of Medjugorje.
Known for her sweet smile,
she has become a true
reflection of Our Lady.
“When we were about seven feet (two meters) away from the Madonna, we felt as if we were
thrown to our knees. Jakov was thrown kneeling into a thorny bush, and I thought he would be
injured. But he came out of it without a scratch. Then I asked: ‘Marija, do you see the
Madonna?’ She said: ‘I see something white; it is getting clearer.’ Later she saw, like the rest of
us.

“Jakov said: ‘I see the Madonna,’ but Ivanka talked to Her first.
Her mother had died two months earlier, and Ivanka asked about
her. The Madonna told Ivanka that her mother is well, is with Her,
and that Ivanka should not worry….

Mirjana complained to the Madonna. ‘Dear Madonna, they will

Life for most young boys
includes pleasure-seeking
and adventures of the world,
but for Ivan Dragicevic, his
life at sixteen was a daily
encounter with the Queen of
Heaven and these
encounters continue today.
not believe us when we go home. They will tell us that we are
crazy.’ The Madonna just smiled. We were on the hill for ten to
fifteen minutes. Meanwhile, some people had come up to join us.
When we were about to leave, the Madonna seemed to be hovering
in the air, and we didn’t know what to say. Then She said to
us: ‘Go in God’s peace.’ Our heads were all turned in the
direction where She was leaving-all in the wsame direction. No one
said anything, but everyone was frightened.
“When we were on the hill, praying with the Madonna on the
second day, we prayed seven Our Fathers. We were praying
because we did not know what else to do. We were crying a little
and praying a little. Later, She told us to pray seven Our Father’s,
Hail Mary’s, Glory Be’s, and the Credo.”

For those who followed the six children up the hill that day, they
were dumbfounded as to the speed in which they saw the visionaries
climb it. They, themselves, could not keep up with them. Mirjana’s
uncle, who was one of the adults present that day, stated that, “It
takes at least twelve minutes to get up there, yet they did it in two. It
scared me to death.”13The apparition lasted for almost 15 minutes.
All the visionaries were weeping upon coming down from the hill.
They were both moved and frightened by their experience.

Marinko Ivankovic, a man of about 40 years in age, lived across the

street from Milka and Marija, and just down the street from Vicka’s Can anyone imagine an
house. He knew the children well, and knew them to be ‘good girls.’ encounter with Heaven at
He had come across Marija and Vicka on Thursday morning and 10-years-old? Jakov Colo
literally grew up in Our
heard, for the first time, the strange occurrences of the day before.
Lady’s presence.
He was shaken by the story and decided, if the children returned to
the hill, he would keep a close watch on them. However, he arrived
at the wrong time, and was there only to see the children, who were frightened and upset, coming
down from the mountain. He said,

Marija Pavlovic, 16 at the
time the apparitions began,
went with the others on the
second day Our Lady
appeared, because her sister
Milka was unable to go. In
her humility, she wanted
only to “be there” with Our
Lady, but then she was
chosen to be one of the six.
“Ivanka was sobbing, terribly upset. I ran to her and asked what the
matter was, and she told me all that had passed between her and the
apparition. I tried to tell her that if the vision had said her mother
was well and happy, then she should be laughing not crying. But she
was inconsolable.”1
Marinko felt that the parish priests should be informed and involved
in these occurrences, especially if ‘some evil power was at work
here.’ But to his dismay, the pastor, Fr. Jozo Zovko was not in the
village and the assistant pastor Fr. Zrinko Culvalo wanted nothing to
do with the matter. Marinko then took it upon himself to help and
watch over the children. As he spoke to them, he began to believe
their story. He said after returning from the Church,
“…so I went back home and talked to the children myself. Ivanka had
calmed down by that time and was able to talk quite rationally. And
that was when I began to believe the whole fantastic story, because I
knew Ivanka well, and she was a level-headed studious girl. I knew
Milka and Marija too; every night the girls used to come and help my
wife Dragica, with the washing-up…They were good girls.”15

And thus ended the second day of the apparitions. It was on this day that Heaven made known its
final determination of those who would be the only “eye-witnesses” of Our Lady in the
apparitions. The six children who went up the hill that day compiled the permanent group of
visionaries: For this reason, among others perhaps, June 25th became the anniversary of the
apparitions and eventually was named, the Feast of Our Lady Queen of Peace, at the request of
Our Lady, herself.

Day Three of the Apparitions

June 26, 1981

As the apparitions continued each day, the differences of each apparition only increased the
mystery of the visions instead of making sense of why they were happening. On this third day,
news of the apparitions had spread to all the small villages and regions around Medjugorje.
Consequently, several thousand people gathered on the hill that evening.

Marinko Ivankovic, having already committed to support, defend, and protect the children in any
way he could, met them at the bottom of the hill this evening, bringing with him a bottle of Holy
Water. Holy Water and Holy Salt were commonly used for house blessings to protect against evil
in these Catholic, Croatian homes. Vicka once said a favorite expression of her grandmother’s
that she had heard often when growing up was, “He is fearful like the devil is of Holy Water!”
Some of the older women had told the visionaries to sprinkle the apparition with the water to see
if it would ‘flee’.16

On this day Our Lady used a different means to attract the visionaries attention. A brilliant light
flashed three times, announcing Our Lady’s arrival. Seeing the light the visionaries began
bounding up the mountain, telling Marinko exactly where they were headed so he could keep up
with them. They were then, followed by a multitude of children and adults. Vicka stated, “We
ran forward as though on wings. The place is all thorn and stone...it’s awful steep. But we flew
like birds. We just flew. Us and the people.”17

There was a great deal of excitement and fear among the people gathered for when the light had
flashed, all those present were given the grace to see it. Our Lady led the visionaries much higher
up the mountain then on the previous occasions, a good 300 meters higher than before. The
crowd saw the six suddenly stop and drop to their knees all at the same moment, in front of an
old wooden cross. Marinko stated,
“I had taken the Holy Water from my house, to sprinkle it around the vision, in order to see what
She is: whether the Madonna or the devil. However, when we had climbed up the hill, we knelt
down, and I gave the Holy Water to Vicka to sprinkle.”
“I sprinkled Her,” said Vicka, “and said in full voice: ‘If you are the Virgin, remain with us, if
you are not depart from us.’ I came quite close and didn’t spare the water.” Vicka then said that
Our Lady smiled. “It seemed to me that She was pleased.”

The children said that on this day they prayed and sang in the apparition. Marinko had told
Ivanka to ask the Lady why She has come.
She responded:
“I have come because there are many true believers here. I wish to be with you to convert
and to reconcile the whole world…
Though Our Lady had told Ivanka that her mother, who had recently died, was in Heaven with
Her and happy, Ivanka still longed to know more. Vicka said that, “Because her mother had died
in the hospital and no one was with her, Ivanka had wondered if she had left a message for her
children. The Madonna answered,

‘…Obey your grandmother and help her because she is old.’

“Mirjana wanted to know about her grandfather who had recently died.

‘He is well.’

“The visionaries requested a sign for those who don’t see Our Lady to prove that the apparition
was really the Gospa.

‘Blessed are those who have not seen and who believe.’

“It was Mirjana who asked the Lady: ‘Who are you?’

‘I am the Blessed Virgin Mary.’

“More questions from the visionaries: ‘Why are you appearing to us? We are no better than
others.’
‘I do not necessarily choose the best.’

“‘Will you come back?’

‘Yes, to the same place as yesterday.’

Marija reports that they asked Our Lady, “Is there life on other planets?

“That is not for you to know now.”

It was now 7:00 in the evening. The apparition had ended and both Mirjana and Ivanka felt faint.
Marinko, their ever present guardian cleared a path for them through the crowd, helping them
down the mountain. Marija began descending herself. She was half way down when she felt
herself mysteriously pushed to the side of the trail by an unseen force. She sees the Virgin again.
Our Lady is crying and there is a bare wooden cross behind Her.

“Peace, Peace, Peace! Be reconciled! Only Peace. Make your peace with God and among
yourselves. For that, it is necessary to believe, to pray, to fast, and to go to confession.”21

Vicka tells it this way: “She, Marija, is rather swift footed. She went a bit ahead: with us. And
suddenly, she as though she was tossed, not knowing how,… was tossed off to the side…There,
the Virgin appeared with a big cross to Marija alone. Marija said the Virgin was very sad, and
that She spoke to her through tears. Marija was very frightened. She was unable to stand on her
feet…At that point, we also arrived. We spotted her and helped her until she got her wits about
her. And, slowly we managed to get home.22

“It was an overwhelming experience,” said Marija. “I saw the Madonna weeping, and the sight
drove me to commit myself totally to Her request. She had come to inspire all of us to search for
peace-peace in our own hearts, peace within our families, peace in the world.”23

Day three then was an eventful day. From this time forward, three flashes of light would preceed
each apparition. Our Lady revealed Her identity saying, “I am the Blessed Virgin
Mary.” According to Vicka it was pronounced ‘loud and clear’,24 She revealed why She had
come, ‘…to convert and to reconcile’ the whole world. She would say Her Most important
message is to call the world to peace.25

Returning to their homes, the people gathered outside the homes of the visionaries, waiting to
know everything that had happened, what was said, how did Our Lady look. And they stayed,
hearing the stories told over and over again, well into the night.

Day Four of the Apparitions

June 27, 1981

Saturday came and with it, new trials for the six children and their families. That afternoon the
local government authorities had the children picked up and brought to the police station in near
by Citluk for questioning. The children never wavered in their testimony, even before the police.
They had seen the Virgin Mary up on Podbrdo, in their village of Medjugorje. In an attempt to
have them labeled “mentally unfit,” they were sent to be examined by the doctor on duty. Ivan
was the first to be called in and an entire hour had passed before the doctor came out to call the
next one. By this time it was getting late in the afternoon. Due to Vicka’s insistence, the doctor
released them. He later stated that he had found the children to be normal, well-balanced and
healthy. The time was 6 p.m. All but Ivan, jumped in a taxi and headed back to Medjugorje for
the apparition. Ivan’s mother, seeing trouble beginning to rise with the authorities, asked her son
to stay, that evening, at home. By 6:30, the other five children were at the foot of the hill ready to
ascend. Mirjana, Ivanka and Vicka began going up together, while Marija and Jakov waited
down below looking up towards the hill. Suddenly, Marija saw a light. A Franciscan priest, who
was walking with them, reported the following:

“Marija and Jakov were walking with me when suddenly Marija’s face flushed scarlet. “Look!
Look! Look!” she said. Jakov said nothing, but together they ran ahead at what seemed to be a
superhuman speed. Marija was wearing a white blouse and red skirt, so I could see her distinctly
as she ran, almost seeming to fly. It was impossible to keep up with her.”26
Reaching the top, Marija found herself standing in front of Our Lady, alone without the other
visionaries. But then the Blessed Mother disappeared leaving Marija with a puzzled look on her
face.

Jakov, who had not seen the light, joined the other three visionaries and Marija soon discovered
them as well. It was not such an easy task for the visionaries to find each other on the hill as each
day, the number of people present for the apparition increased. In fact, as the apparitions
continued, often the visionaries were separated from each other. But when the light flashed,
announcing Our Lady’s arrival, no matter where they were on the hill…the six came together,
led by the light, much as the wise men were led by the star to the stable in Bethlehem. With
thousands on the hillside, this gave clear validity to the children’s testimony, as it would be
impossible to find each other in such crowds that were gathered.

As the visionaries began to sing and pray together, the people joined them, pressing all the more
closer to them. Those closest to the visionaries, seeing the expressions change on their faces,
realized the apparition was taking place and moved more tightly in towards the children. The
children, while still in ecstasy, began to excitedly tell the people to move, as the children were
shocked to see them stepping on the Blessed Mother’s long veil, but the crowds were out of
control and wouldn’t listen. Our Lady then disappeared a second time. Marinko with a handful of
villagers made a circle around the visionaries to help control the crowd. Our Lady re-appeared,
but again disappeared when another boy stepped on Her veil. The visionaries noticed that Our
Lady hadn’t said goodbye, which had been Her custom. They began praying again, hoping that
Our Lady would return. But when She did not, they began to move back down the hill.

That day on the mountain, the visionaries asked Our Lady several questions.

“Jakov wanted to know what the Virgin expected of the Franciscans in Medjugorje.
‘Have them persevere in the faith and protect the faith of the people.’

“Mirjana and Jakov were concerned because the people were treating them like liars. They
asked Our Lady to leave a sign for the people.

‘My angels, do not be afraid of injustices. They have always existed.’

“The visionaries wanted to know: ‘How must we pray?’

‘Continue to recite The Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be seven times, but
also add the Creed…”27

Meanwhile, Ivan had felt very dejected, not being on the hill this evening. He had left his house,
to go a short distance towards the hill and it was there, on the side of the road, that Our Lady
appeared to him. “She greeted him, told him to be at peace and to take courage, and then smiled
as She left him.”28 Vicka was asked if perhaps Our Lady faulted him for not being present with
the rest of the visionaries. She replied, “No, no. None of you know how kind the Virgin is and
how She understands us. She told him to be at peace and to have courage. She bade him farewell
and departed. What can the lad do! He’s not to blame.”29
As the five seers descended the mountain together, Our Lady appeared once more to them, to
their delight. She greeted them and said, “Farewell my angels. Go in the peace of God!” And
for the last time on this day Our Lady disappeared.30

This was an important apparition for those who were concerned that the children were making
the whole story up. Fr. Joseph Pelletier, author of The Queen of Peace Visits Medjugorje, spoke
to this point.

“The first sign was the way in which Our Lady appeared on this fourth day. It was completely
different from the manner in which the apparition had occurred previously. It was so
complicated and involved that it would seem to surpass the capacity of the young people to have
thought it up by themselves. Marija broke away from Jakov and raced up the mountain alone.
Our Lady appeared to her alone at a different place than before and then mysteriously
disappeared. When Our Lady appeared to the five seers together, the people saw the light, which
immediately preceded Her coming. During this apparition, She disappeared again to the five as
they returned home and, finally, She appeared to Ivan alone, Her sixth appearance in that single
day. Many people felt that the pattern of what happened proved the apparitions were not under
the control of the seers. In this regard, the apparition to the five seers on their way home was
particularly impressive. Together, they all pulled away from the people who were supporting
them and together they suddenly saw Our Lady.”31

As it ended, Ivan’s mother, seeing how miserable Ivan was in not being able to be with the other
five upon the hill, did not interfere any longer, and allowed him to go at the appointed times. At
the same time, she suffered terribly, especially as the harassment of the police began to increase.
All the parents were in anguish, having to look after their other children, the house, their fields.
Several of the fathers were not in the village at the time, working in Germany or other locations.
This left the mother’s alone to cope with these strange happenings involving their children. Only
a few days into the apparitions, Vicka’s mother, very distraught, sat outside Fr. Jozo’s office as
the children were being questioned. Fr. Tomislav Pervan was present in the room with her, in her
anxiety, she cried to him,

“Father, please try to get this crazy thing out of their minds. I cannot take it anymore! I have
seven other children at home…and Grandma…and my husband is in Germany. And now all
these police around the house and all that is happening and all this commotion around the
house…and people gathering here. I cannot stand it. I cannot carry it anymore!
“But Vicka just talked to her mother and me and the pastor and all who were present there, ‘But
mama, what can I say? I am seeing the Blessed Mother.’”32

In an interview with Mirjana concerning the difficulties they had to endure in these early days of
the apparitions, Mirjana said,

“When we shared what the Blessed Mother was saying, we had such persecution; nobody
believed us! People said I had brought drugs from Sarajevo. I was fifteen years old; I hardly
even knew about drugs then! People thought we were crazy…The first time I heard what people
were saying about me, I couldn’t sleep all night long. But the next day the Blessed Mother told
me that I should not worry at all. I should never worry about anything that people would say
about me. She told me everything would be okay…The Blessed Mother was very conscious of our
fear. We talked, we prayed, and we sang. Gradually She led us to understand that She is our real
Mother. Later, as time went on and we began to be comfortable with Her, we were able to speak
to Her as our Mother about our problems and all our desires.”33

Day Five of the Apparitions

June 28, 1981-Sunday

The parish priest, Fr. Jozo, had been more than 248 miles/400 km away from Medjugorje during
the first few days of the apparitions. This left the responsibility of dealing with the children up to
his assistant pastor, Fr. Zrinko Cuvalo. He was a gruff man and intimidating. As he did not
readily believe in the apparitions, he challenged the children with questions trying to trip them
up. He tried to frighten them into confessing the whole thing was fabricated and accused them of
being on drugs. He was not successful in leading them towards a confession that they had made
up the story.

Fr. Jozo had arrived home Saturday and was shocked and deeply troubled upon discovering the
events taking place in his parish over the past three days. It wasn’t until after Mass on Sunday
that he, himself was able to meet and question the children. Vicka reported in an interview with
Fr. Janko Bubalo, “After Church, Fr. Jozo called us into the parish house and began to question
each of us individually…” What did he ask? “Everything. Everything…whatever came to his
head…There was no end.”34 Fr. Jozo began tape recording conversations with the children:
“…I could listen to them again at night and discover the inconsistencies in what they said. I
spoke to them for hours on end, trying to get at the truth. But the more they told me, the more
confused I became. They were absolutely overwhelmed by what they had seen: and they couldn’t
understand why I wouldn’t believe them. But the more I listened to them, the more insoluble the
problem seemed to get.”35

Being that it was Sunday, thousands came this day to the hillside; an estimated 15,000. The days
had been extremely hot and people had come without food or water. Many had climbed the hill
already by noon on this day and sat baking in the sun. Others stationed themselves by the houses
of the children.

Around 5:30 p.m. the visionaries gathered and began to squeeze through the crowd. Vicka said,
“If our men folk didn’t make a path for us, we simply could not have gotten to the site.”36 Once
up on the hill, the crowd made a little room for the six and they began to pray with the people.
Almost immediately the light flashed and Our Lady was amongst them all. On this day one of the
villagers had brought a tape recorder and taped the whole conversation of the visionaries with
Our Lady. They could hear the visionaries ask the questions and then after Our Lady replied,
they reported Her response to the people. Following is a transcription of the tape.

Children: “Dear Madonna! What do you wish from us, i.e., the children?
Madonna: “Faith and respect for Me.

Children: “Dear Madonna! What do you wish from our priests?

Madonna: “That they firmly believe.

Children: “Dear Madonna! Why don’t you appear in the Church so that everybody sees you?
Madonna: “Blessed are they who have not seen and believe.

Children: “Dear Madonna! Will you come again? ‘She will; She will come to the same place.
She will come.’ Dear Madonna! Which do you like better: that we pray to You or sing to you?
Madonna: “Do both: sing and pray.

Children: “Dear Madonna! What do you wish from these people who have gathered here? At this
point, the children said, the Madonna, before She answered: ‘Looked at all the people and
smiled.’

Madonna: “Let them believe as if they see.

Children: “She is disappearing. She is gone.”37

The Blessed Mother had, indeed, disappeared, but She had not said, “Go in God’s peace,” as
was usual. Vicka then said: “We will pray again. She did not say anything to us, meaning She did
not say good-bye.” They then joined together to pray two Our Father’s, two Hail Mary’s and two
Glory Be’s.
Children: “There She is again! Let us sing a song! Marija began to sing a song: ‘Marijo, Marijo,
o kako lijepa si…’
Madonna: “My Angels, my dear angels!

Children: “Dear Madonna! What do You wish from these people here?

Madonna: “Let these people, who do not see me, believe the same as the six of you, who see
me.

Children: “Dear Madonna! Will you leave us some sign, here on earth, so that we can convince
people that we are not liars, that we do not lie, that we do not play games with You?
Madonna: “Go in God’s peace!

Children: “She left! There’s a light behind Her! She is gone!

The children then sang well-known Croatian religious songs: “Sred te se pecine,” “Marijo, O
Marijo,” “Kiste; u tvoje ime.” Then the tape ends.38

Day Six of the Apparitions

June 29, 1981-Monday

The Feast of Sts. Peter & Paul

With day six arrived the Feast day of St. Peter and St. Paul. As is the custom of the village on the
feast days, it is a day in which no one works; it is celebrated by going to the Church and visiting
family. But as the visionaries were preparing to go to Mass, two vehicles showed up at the door-
to escort them to see doctors in Mostar. It was a frightening experience as all six children were
crammed into an ambulance and parents and guardians were stuffed into the second car. Vicka,
in relaying the incidence to her confessor said, “…agony and grief, my dear Father! They opened
the door to the ambulance, and told us to get in… What can I do? ‘Might does not ask God for
permission’ an expression I heard many times from my grandmother. Get in and that was it!”39

They were brought to the neuropsychiatric department of Mostar hospital where Dr. Mulija
Dzuda, a professional psychiatrist was ready to examine them, in a second attempt by the
authorities to have them diagnosed as mentally ill. The experience was not pleasant and it upset
the children. In the midst of the examination, they were brought down to the mortuary and the
interrogation was continued there, but in the end they passed every test and were declared sound
in mind and body. In fact Dr. Dzuda stated before they left that, “It’s the people who brought you
here who must be insane. There’s nothing wrong with you.”40

Mirjana was badly shaken from the experience and confessed to Fr. Tomislav Vlasic that, “‘…it
had been like being in prison or shut up with mad people.’ When I asked her if she’d go up to the
hill again, she said she very much doubted it: ‘If they question me once more, I’ll have a nervous
breakdown.’” And yet that very evening Mirjana did return to the hill. Fr. Tomislav took her to
task later for her inconsistent testimony, to which she replied, “When it came to the point,
nothing and no one could have stopped me. The question of whether or not I should go simply
didn’t arise.”41

The visionaries had arrived back home around 2:00 pm but there was no rest for them. The
crowds were larger than ever, and gathered around their houses so that they could hardly move.
It was hot and everyone wanted to know and hear directly from the seers their experiences. After
the morning they had had, none of them were too eager to talk. The time of the apparition came
around quickly, but again they faced having to squeeze through he momentous crowd gathered
on all parts of the hill. And again, it was Marinko and the village men who guided them through
by making a path to the site of the apparition. As yesterday, the children came with many
questions.

The visionaries wanted to know if the Gospa was happy to see so many people present.

“More than happy.”

They asked, “How long will you stay?”

“As long as you will want me to, my angels.”
They questioned Our Lady about Her expectations about those who came despite the heat and
brambles.

“There is only one God, one faith. Let the people believe firmly and do not fear anything.”

“What do you expect of us?” the visionaries inquired.

“That you have a solid faith and that you maintain confidence.”

The visionaries wanted to know if they would be strong enough to endure persecutions because
of their beliefs.

“You will be able to, my angels. Do not fear. You will be able to endure everything. You
must believe and have confidence in me.”42

On the mountain that night was a doctor by the name of Drinka Glamuzina, working for the
government. She made her way to Vicka and asked if she could touch Our Lady. Vicka said, “We
asked the Virgin, and the Virgin said: ‘There have always been Judases who don’t believe, but
she can approach.’”43 The doctor approached and touched the Virgin. Vicka had taken hold of
her hand and directed it to the left shoulder of Our Lady. The visionaries testified that she
immediately stepped back, and then melted in the crowd. Vicka said about the doctor, “She said
nothing in front of the people. Later she stopped at our house and before all declared that when
she touched Her she felt some sort of tingling through her hand.”44 Vicka never saw her again.
Some who saw her descend the mountain said she stumbled down the hill in a state of shock.

It was in this apparition that they presented to Our Lady, for the first time a sick person and
asked Our Lady to heal him. He was a small boy by the name of Daniel Setka. Vicka relates,
“…His father held him in his arms. The little boy looked half dead. He hung his head on his
father’s left shoulder. Really, he looked pathetic…The father pleaded and prayed to the Virgin
that She cure him, and he asked us to pray and ask the Virgin to help the boy… We asked. In
fact, I was the one who asked. She, the Virgin, looked upon the boy. Tenderly, tenderly…And She
said, ‘Have them believe strongly in his cure. Go in the peace of God.’”45

And then, once again, even after this long day, the crowds from the mountain descended upon
the homes of the Visionaries. Vicka later told Fr. Jozo:

“We were shouting at the top of our voices from Marinko’s terrace, telling the crowds everything
Our Lady had said to us, over and over again. They wouldn’t leave us alone till long past eleven.
They just wouldn’t go home.”46

Day Seven of the Apparitions

June 30, 1981-Tuesday

These days remained troubling for both Fr. Jozo and Fr. Zrinko. Fr. Zrinko put it this way, “It’s
as though you see something coming at you, but your not sure what it is, what you should be
doing about it, or how you can protect yourself. But you know that, whatever it is, it has the
power to destroy you.”47 As the number in the crowds continued to swell into the thousands
each day, the police became more, and more concerned. The communist government, who
always has reason to fear when scared that an uprising among the people was beginning to
develop and that these “demonstrations”, as they saw them, on the mountain were moving the
people toward a revolution. The local authorities, were therefore, getting pressure from Belgrade
and Sarajevo, to stop the ‘sedition.’ Their plan was to stop the gatherings on the hillside. Orders
went out to the villagers to stop going up the mountain. With those orders came threats. They
forced some of the villagers, themselves, to block everyone going up-and if they failed to do so-
they’re homes and fields would be confiscated. In a communist country, the greatest threat to a
family’s existence was the loss of their home and land. There was no welfare, so you and your
family starved. And so some villagers stood with guns and pitchforks blocking the entrance to
the mountain, while others refused to allow threats to separate them from the apparitions of Our
Lady. They were placed in a position to make a choice.

The communists had also hatched a plan to keep the seers off the mountain this day. They
arranged for two social workers, young women near the ages of the older visionaries, both who
were known by the visionaries and their families, to offer to take them for a little afternoon
excursion. Considering it a relief to get away for a bit, all but Ivan agreed to go. The two girls
drove the five other visionaries all throughout the local region. It eventually became apparent to
them, that they had been led into a trick, as the social workers prevented the children from being
back in time to climb the hill for the apparition. Seeing the hill the visionaries asked the girls to
stop the car, but their request was ignored. Vicka stated,

“We already realized while on the road that we made a mistake in going for the outing, for, in
the end, it seemed to us that they just took us so that we might not be present for the Virgin…on
the way through Cerno, we asked that they stop so that we might pray to the Virgin…It was
somewhere about six in the afternoon. When we usually meet with the Virgin… They were
somewhat reluctant to stop. They pretended not to hear us. But, when we said we would jump out
of the car if they didn’t stop, they stopped. We then got out and went off the road a bit.”48

In an interview with Fr. Jozo that took place later that evening Ivanka told what happened next.

“First, we prayed our usual prayers. Then, not thinking about what I was doing, I looked up the
hill and saw a light and the light was coming towards us. On the hillside where the people were,
they-and everything-were bathed in the light. Those two girls, who had driven them on the trip,
saw this. I said: ‘Do you see the light?’ They said: ‘We see it.’ I looked at the light all the time.
Then we knelt and sang.”49

Mirjana was next: “I asked Her if She was displeased that we had left the hill and gone to the
other place. She said that She does not mind... Then we asked if She minds if we do not go to the
hill anymore and, instead, to the church. Somehow, She seemed undecided when we asked Her
this. Even so, She said that She would not mind.”50

Ivanka added that the apparitions would be at the same time.

The visionaries had asked the two social workers to bring them to the parish office after the
apparition because quite frankly, they were afraid to go to the hill after having disappointed the
thousands who had wanted for them this evening. The police had warned them not to go back to
the hill as well. The Visionaries were divided as to what they should do. “…it was awful for us. A
large crowd gathered on Podbrdo. They waited for us and the Virgin, and neither us nor the
Virgin were there. The poor people! They wait, and wait…but nothing. All kinds of rumors went
around: that we ran off somewhere; that they took us off to jail. Why, everything…”51 It was then
that they decided to go to Fr. Jozo.

Fr. Jozo learning that they had not been on the mountain that night, began to question them-each
one individually and then altogether, until near 9 p.m. at night. Arriving at home, they learned
that their parents had been terribly upset, wondering what had happened to their children, if they
had been taken by the police, if they had gotten into an accident. They imagined everything
possible. And so began the long explanation of their day, not ending until late into the night. As
they got into bed, grateful to see the end of this day. But it was not meant to be. News came to
them this late night that Marinko had been arrested. Accused and suffering because of them, the
visionaries went to find him and though they were unsuccessful, they protested his arrest and told
them at the police station… “arrest us if you want, we told them, but leave the Marinko
alone.”52 Having the children gathered there the police let loose upon them a great deal of threats
and verbal abuse. Finally, at 2 a.m., they were sent home.

The outcome of this very long, agonizing day was that the apparitions would begin taking place
in the Church. The government authorities would be happy to have the crowds off the mountains.
“They can pray all day long, and all night too if they want, so long as they don’t do it on the hill.
The law makes no provision for worshipping on a hill.”53 This statement was made by the
Chairman of the League of Communists in Citluk. And so ended the seventh day.

Day Eight of the Apparitions

 July 1, 1981-Wednesday

On day eight, a new threat was leveled at the children. The Secret Security police made an
announcement to the villagers that the children were banned from both the hill and the Church.
This pronouncement was made in a meeting held in the Medjugorje School after a summons
went out to all the villagers. What if they refused? The parents were threatened that if they did
not cooperate, it would be spread that they are mentally unfit, would have no more possibility of
future education, and that they would face defamation of themselves and families. Even with the
threats, the parents deferred their children. Fr. Jozo would say later, “Those poor parents were
treated terribly bad. They were really the heroes who took the brunt of this treatment and by us
priests, by the Communists and by the sensation-seekers. I think the parents were the real
martyrs of these days.”54

Of the time Marija said, “We felt quite strong. Our Lady helped us through. Somehow, the more
problems we had, the better we coped. We spent all day talking to pilgrims, and every evening
praying, so at most we got two or three hours of sleep. Yet in those days we seemed to be living
under a special grace.”55
The two social workers, who had participated in yesterdays trick, were greatly moved by the
apparition they had witnessed. They ended up resigning their position with the government as
they had a change of heart and became believers. Even so, a police van pulled up the next day,
apparently with the same plan-to keep the children from going to the hill. The police officers
were content, at first to watch from their car, but as the time of the apparition neared, they forced
the seers in the van. Jakov’s mother was able to drag her son out before the doors closed. Inside
were Marija, Vicka and Ivanka. The police drove them past the hill and past the Church-all the
while they were beating their fists on the windows until they finally stopped the van.

And yet even in the midst of all this commotion, the children had the apparition. Vicka tells what
happened to Fr. Bubalo.

Janko: You didn’t see the Virgin that day?

Vicka: Why of course! And how we did! Why, I’ll never forget it.

Janko: Where did you see Her?

Vicka: Why, in the car!

Janko: In the car?

Vicka: Yes, yes. Right in the car!

Janko: And how? Was the car in motion at the time or stopped?

Vicka: That I don’t know.

Janko: And how is that, again?
Vicka: Quite simple! At the time, nothing of the car could be seen.

Janko: I don’t understand!

Vicka: When the Virgin appeared, there was neither a sign of the car, or of anyone.

Janko: Again, I don’t comprehend.

Vicka: Why, it’s the same as when we see the Virgin in that room. We see the Virgin, but we
don’t see anything else or sense anything else.

Janko: And did you pray that the Virgin appear?

Vicka: No, no. Who could even think of it at the time?

Janko: Then how?

Vicka: Why, the Virgin, as on so many other occasions, appeared among us, and that was it!

Janko: Were you surprised, frightened, or…

Vicka: Why, you didn’t even have time to think of anything!

Janko: Nonetheless, that was strange!

Vicka: Why, yes. They were quite frightened, but I wasn’t at all.

Janko: Who is, they?

Vicka: Marija and Ivanka. They became actually stiff from fear. That’s why those two called
them witches, and everything else…

Janko: How long did the Virgin remain with you?

Vicka: Not long. She said something to us smiled, and left.

Janko: What did She say to you?

Vicka: Nothing special. She told us not to fear. And the like…Her main concern was to appear to
us; that She didn’t forget us. The

Virgin is good!56

And so ended the eight day.

Once the apparition ended, the police left them off at the Church.
And so for the second day in a row the people waited in the rain for the children and the Virgin.
The visionaries felt very badly for them, those who waited and prayed. Yet the people did not
give up. The faith sustained them as they waited, being that Our Lady would not disappoint their
faith.

Day Nine of the Apparitions

July 2, 1981-Thursday

The police continued their harassment of the children on this day as well, showing up near their
homes around noon. The children, realizing what they meant to do again, slipped out of their
houses in an effort to elude them.

“We really didn’t know where to hide.” Vicka told Fra Janko Bubalo. “In the end we went
towards the church, not via the road, but through our tobacco fields and vineyards, so that they
wouldn’t spot us. The church was locked…We thought, ‘Oh God, where can we go now?’ But, as
luck would have it, one of the friars was praying in the church and…”57

As the children were running through fields and vineyards trying to escape, Fr. Jozo was alone in
the church, in deep anguish over the situation in his parish. He had, at this moment, placed
himself before God crying out to Him to understand what he must do.

“I was in anguish because of all the events. It was at this time that something began to happen in
me, which led me to become more than just a listener to the children’s reports.

“People from the government service were brought in to put a stop to the events. Those who
were believers did not do it happily. The two girls who had experienced the events at Cerno
resigned because of their own experience. The police came to intervene directly. Someone came
to Vicka’s mother and said, ‘Zlota, let the children go no more to the church, let the children
give that up. It is going to be difficult for you.’

Zlota answered, ‘I will see. I do not know. Who can order a child what to do?’

“Sometime in the middle of the day the police came to find the children, to try to stop them after
the two girls had failed. They asked throughout the village where the children were. They wanted
to remove them from the hill and from the people. The people responded in various ways: in the
fields, in the village, here, there. Meanwhile, the children, who knew they were being sought,
were running from the village through the vineyards, toward the church, in the process of
escaping, they even changed their clothes in order to change their appearance. It was like
playing a game of hide and go seek.

“While all this was going on, I was in the church praying, feeling great responsibility in front of
God as pastor. The people were asking questions and I had to say something to the people, to the
priests and the sisters. In a way, I felt like Moses before the Red Sea and I knew that I could
speak only to God. No man could have answered my need. I prayed, ‘God, I know you talked to
Abraham, to Moses and to others. Now there are thousands of people here these days. Tell me
where the river is going. I do not know where the mouth of that river is, nor what its source is.’

“No one was in the church with me at that moment. And then, something happened that for me
was important and decisive. It was both a turning point and a moment of revelation. While I was
praying I heard a voice say, “Come out and protect the children.” I left my Bible and breviary,
genuflected and with no further thought nor delay left the church. As I was leaving the church
through the middle door, with my foot still in the air and the door handle in my hand, the
children ran toward me from the left side of the church, escaping from the police. They told me,
‘The police are chasing us. Hide us.’ They had gathered around me and were crying. Ana,
Vicka’s sister was with them, sharing their fate. I embraced the children and took them to the
rectory. I locked them in an unoccupied room of the house.

“Soon the police came. They asked me, ‘Did you see the children?’ ‘I did,’ I answered. The
police kept running very fast toward the village of Bijakovici to catch them. After the police left, I
went to talk with the children. I asked them to stay in the rectory so they would not be caught.
Shortly after the Madonna came to them in the room. Later there were seven visions in that same
room.”58

For the third day in a row, there would be no visionaries up on the hill-and therefore, no
apparition. But the crowds of people had still come. However, it began to circulate among them
that there was going to be a service at the church that evening. Fr. Jozo said, “I wouldn’t have
believed the church could hold so many people. I was scarcely able to push my way through to
the altar and when I got there and began to say Mass, I had no room to lift my arms to give a
blessing.”59

The people gathered in the church had been praying together at 5 p.m. when Fr. Zrinko led the
prayer of the Rosary. At 6:00 p.m., Fr. Jozo celebrated Holy Mass. He said his “motives” in
having Mass together with the apparitions, “were based on the value of Mass. I would have
nothing even close in its value to offer to the people gathered there. In that Mass, I wanted the
people to cease being spectators and become participants in the events.”60

Fr. Jozo, that evening in his homily, spoke about Moses ‘leading the children of Israel out Egypt
and across the Red Sea,’ how God granted them signs throughout their 40 year journey to show
His love and His nearness to them. Of Mary, Fr. Jozo said, She was, “the first believer who
completely obeyed God and His call…Mary, as the first Christian, is here today with me, your
priest, and with you as faithful Christians…”

He ended his homily with an invitation.

“…I beg you to start fasting, to fast tomorrow, to fast the day after tomorrow, taking only bread
and water, so that God may reveal Himself to us and tell us what we are to do. There is no
heaven so closed that, prayer, fasting and penance may not find a way into it…”61
“That mass of people,” Fr. Jozo reported, “responded to my request with great exclamation, full
of faith, ‘We will’.”63

Fr. Jozo then brought the six children into the church, in the sanctuary behind the altar. The
apparition had already taken place earlier in the day but, at the conclusion of Mass, the children
prayed the seven Our Fathers, Hail Marys, Glory Be’s with the congregation.

And so from this day the people began to gather at the Church to pray the Rosary at 5 p.m., Holy
Mass at 6 p.m. ending with the seven Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Be’s. The visionaries
continued to be harassed by the police in the days that followed, which prevented them from
being at the church every evening. But often they would be there and the apparition would take
place during the Rosary before Mass. Today, in Medjugorje, pilgrims who come become, as Fr.
Jozo said, not mere spectators, but participants in the event of Medjugorje, in the life of
Medjugorje.

A final revelation was made to the visionaries themselves on Saturday, July 4th. Fr. Jozo, in his
first meeting with the visionaries questioned them about what they knew of other apparitions.
Mirjana stated, “I’d never heard of any other apparitions. I didn’t know about Fatima or
Lourdes. I suppose I’d never been interested in that kind of thing. In those days I only went to
Church when I had to.”63 Fr. Jozo handed them a book called The Apparitions of the Blessed
Virgin. Reading the stories in the book they became fascinated by Bernadette Soubirous, the
visionary of Lourdes, France, in the apparition that took place in 1858. They read that she had
had 18 apparitions and reasoned from there that they, too, would only have 18 apparitions.
Counting up the number of their apparitions they already had, had they calculated their last one
to be Friday, July 3rd.

Contrary to the children’s expectations, however, the apparitions did not end on the Friday. So
sure were they of the approaching end that they did not even meet on the Saturday evening. Ivan
was at home stringing tobacco leaves for drying, Vicka was picking flowers to take to the hill. In
the act of picking them, her hand went stiff, and she dropped to her knees. Marija walked into a
room at home, and all “all of a sudden, there was the Madonna, and I fell to my knees”. Her
brother, Ante, who was with her, rushed out of the room, leaving her alone to pray.

And that was the beginning of the apparitions’ semi-clandestine phase. From now on, they would
take place in random locations, wherever the children happened to be: in a neighbor’s house, out
of doors, in the clergy house, and only sometimes in the church.

All six of them saw the Madonna that night. On Saturday, therefore, “we got together and She
came to us. We decided that we weren’t going to be the same as Lourdes after all.”64
And so the first 9 days of the apparitions began a foundation to change the direction of the world.
No one could have imagined the apparitions would still continue three decades later. We still do
not grasp, even a little, the magnitude of Medjugorje. But one thing is clear, had Our Lady not
come, the world would be a complete inferno. Through these decades of apparitions, there is a
separation of the light and the dark, and through Our Lady, we, at least, have hope the light will
conquer.