The seers' story
On 24 June, 1981, at about 6 pm, two young people, Ivanka Ivanković and Mirjana Dragićević, were out walking on a hill known as Crnica just outside of town, in the hamlet of Bijakovići. They later reported that they had gone to look for their sheep to bring them in for the night. They said they saw a young woman with a child in her arms, who beckoned them to come nearer. Surprised and scared, they did not approach her.
On the second day, believing that the woman they had seen might be the Virgin Mary, the girls returned to the hill, bringing their friend Vicka Ivanković along. According to the official story, they ran barefoot up the hill over rocks and thorns, not keeping to the path. Ivanka said the lady was there, and the three girls threw themselves to their knees in prayer. Vicka left after a few minutes, because she wanted to bring her friends Marija Pavlović and Jakov Čolo to see the lady. Another young person who reports daily visions is Ivan Dragićević. (According to some accounts, two other children, Milka Pavlović and Ivan Ivanković, were present on the first day of apparitions, but did not come back on the second day, and never again reported a vision.)
According to the official report, Ivanka began to ask the lady about friends and relatives who had died, and Mirjana asked for a sign to show everyone that the visions were real. The girls said that the lady agreed and said she would return the next day.
The message
They are based on mainly 5 cornerstone topics: Daily Prayer (Of the Rosary), Fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, Daily Reading of the Bible, Monthly Confession, Holy Communion.
All the messages are accessible on the Web [2]
Here are a few examples
of messages among other:
"Children, darkness reigns over the whole world. People are attracted by
many things and they forget about the more important."
"Light won't reign in the world until people accept Jesus, until they live His words, which is the Word of the Gospel."
"Dear children, this is the reason for my presence among you for such a long time: to lead you on the path of Jesus. I want to save you and, through you, to save the whole world. Many people now live without faith; some don't even want to hear about Jesus, but they still want peace and satisfaction! Children, here is the reason why I need your prayer: prayer is the only way to save the human race." (July 30, 1987)
The Ten Secrets
In the early days of the apparitions, it was alleged the Virgin Mary, called "Gospa" in Croatian, promised the six visionaries ten “secrets” which contain information on future events. These ten secrets, which will affect the Church and the world, were written on a special parchment listing the timing and description of each event. Mirjana keeps the parchment in her home. To date, three visionaries, Mirjana, Ivanka, and Jakov report they have received all ten messages, while Ivan, Marija and Vicka say they have received nine. The six visionaries would eventually each know all ten secrets, but none has fully disclosed them except to announce that they include chastisements for the world and that they will begin during the lifetimes of the visionaries. The seventh secret is said to be a punishment for humanity that has been diminished because of the response to Our Lady’s requests for prayers, fasting and conversion. [1]
The third secret involves a visible and permanent sign that is described as beautiful and indestructible and not of this world, which will be left on Apparition Hill, the site of her first appearance. The seers report hearing Mary make these comments about the sign: "This sign will be given for the atheists. You faithful already have signs and you have become the sign for the atheists. You faithful must not wait for the sign before you convert: convert soon. This time is a time of grace for you. When the sign comes, it will be too late. As a mother I caution you because I love you. The secrets exist. My children! Nothing is known of these now, but when they are known, it will be too late. Return to prayer, nothing is more important than this. I would like it if the Lord allowed me to reveal some of the secrets to you, but that which He is doing for you is already a Grace which is almost too much."
None of the visionaries has disclosed the other secrets, which are said to include blessings as well as chastisements for the world. They say that no amount of prayer, fasting, or good works can entirely prevent the dire events forecast in the secrets. Ten days before the first and second events, Mirjana says she will reveal what is about to happen to Franciscan priest Father Petar Ljubicic of Medjugorje. He will fast and pray for seven days. Then, three days before the event, Father Petar will make a public announcement as to what is to happen and where. Mirjana says that after the events occur, those who are still alive will have little time to convert. She insists that the painful events for humanity are very near, and that the important thing is to convert as quickly as possible and to open ones heart to God.
Status
According to the "Norms of the Congregation for Proceeding in Judging Alleged Apparitions and Revelations," as issued in 1974 by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the local Bishop or Ordinary has the investigative authority over such events in his Diocese. In 1990 Bishop Zanic expressed doubt on the supernatural character of the apparitions.[3] In November of 1990 the then Yugoslav Bishops' Conference made a judgement of, "non constat de supernaturalitate", which means the apparitions are not consistent with the supernatural, or this event could not be proven to be supernatural.[4] In 1997 Bishop Peric stated as much [5], but invited and left open the possibility for the Vatican to investigate. It is important to first understand that the Church will not continue its investigation of Medjugorje until the apparitions of Our Lady are complete. But the last official statement by the commission of bishops set up to investigate Medjugorje declared in 1993: "We bishops, after a three-year-long commission study accept Medjugorje as a holy place, as a shrine. This means that we have nothing against it if someone venerates the Mother of God in a manner also in agreement with the teaching and belief of the Church... Therefore, we are leaving that to further study. The Church does not hurry." (Glas Koncila, August 15, 1993).
We can also consider the words of Pope Urban VIII:
His Holiness, Pope Urban VIII stated: "In cases which concern private revelations, it is better to believe than not to believe, for, if you believe, and it is proven true, you will be happy that you have believed, because our Holy Mother asked it. If you believe, and it should be proven false, you will receive all blessings as if it had been true, because you believed it to be true."(Pope Urban VIII, 1623-44)
According to the Norms, the local Ordinary or Bishop is the first step. If he condemns an apparition, and does not reverse himself, the matter is considered closed.[6]
The judgment of the Bishop of Mostar against the Apparitions was discounted by then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, and a new commission was established.
Scientific Research on the Visionaries
A number of scientific and medical investigations have been conducted on the visionaries in Medjugorje.
The international French-Italian scientific theological commission "On the extraordinary events that are taking place in Medjugorje" reportedly examined the apparitions of Medjugorje. The assembly of seventeen renowned natural scientists, medical doctors, psychiatrists and theologians published a 12 point "conclusion" on January 14, 1986 in Paina near Milan. The summary is that , "one can conclude that after a deeper examination of the protagonists, facts, and their effects, not only in the local framework, but also in regard to the responsive chords of the Church in general, it is well for the Church to recognize the supernatural origin and, thereby, the purpose of the events in Medjugorje."
A French team headed by Mr. Henri Joyeux undertook a series of neurological tests, using EEG and EKG device to examine the internal reactions of the visionaries and the synchronization of their ocular, auditory, cardiac, and cerebral reactions before, during, and after the reported apparitions. They concluded from their readings that the object of observation is apparently external to the visionaries, and they excluded any external manipulation or mutual agreement between the visionaries. The results with individual electro-encephalograms and other reactions were collected and described in Joyeux' book, written with R. Laurentin, Etudes medicales et scientifique sur les Apparitions de Medjugorje (Paris, 1986) It is also interesting to note that during the experiments, one of the things being monitored was brain activity. Most of us are able to use around 15% of our brain during normal activities. It is facinating to note that at the moment when Our Lady appears, the visionaries brain activity jumps to 100% and stays at this level until Our Lady leaves.scientific report
The results of psychiatric investigations by the Institute for the Field Limits Of Science (IGW), the Innsbruck Centre For Study and Research on Psychophysiology of States of Consciousness, the Milano European School of Hypnotic Psychotherapy Amisi of Milan, and the Parapsychology Center of Bologna, likewise concluded that the alleged visionaries showed no signs of pathological symptoms, and no stress other than appropriate for their unusual situation. They pointed out that there is a difference between a state of ecstasy induced by hypnosis and one which comes about spontaneously, and concluded that the alleged visionaries were not under any form of hypnosis.
