artiklerWeibl

The following is presented with permission from:

Weible Columns, Inc.

PO Box 2647

Myrtle Beach, SC 29578

The articles contained in this tabloid were written and published individually

over a period of six months in a local newspaper in Myrtle Beach, SC. This

issue contains an updated article, current through January, 1989. Also there

is an informational sheet on the back for purchasing books, videos, and

information on pilgrimages. Bulk quantities may be purchased.

Wayne Weible

MIRACLE AT MEDUGORJE

It is reported that since June, 1981, the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Jesus

has been appearing daily to a group of young people in a remote mountain

village in Yugoslavia.

The little hamlet of Medugorje, Yugoslavia, is by all outward appearances a

most unlikely place where an event of a supernatural religious nature would

occur. It is a simple rural village of approximately 400 families, located in

the remote inland mountains and hills of this communist-governed country.

Accessibility by modern-day transportation, including the automobile, is

difficult. Once there, tourist amenities are almost non-existent; no hotels

or motels and few eating establishments. Yet, millions of people from all

over the world have come to Medugorje during the last five years.

They have come for one reason: the reported daily appearance of the Blessed

Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, to a group of six young people who

live there. She has been appearing daily to these young people since June,

1981, bringing an urgent message to the whole world to reconcile with God now

and bring peace to a dangerously troubled world.

Just as Medugorje is an unlikely place for such an even to happen, so, too

is my personal involvement with the events there. Prior to November, 1985, I

knew little about the Virgin Mary outside of what is written in the bible. I

knew nothing about past apparitions that had occurred in Fatima, Portugal, or

in Lourdes, France. That was all soon to change.

I first heard about Medugorje in a Sunday School class I was teaching at

the Lutheran Church my family and I had attended for the past five years. The

subject of the lesson was modern-day miracles. Toward the end of the class,

someone mentioned what was happening in Yugoslavia in this little village.

She knew only that the Mother of Jesus was supposedly appearing to some

children and that it had been going on for some time.

As publisher of four weekly community newspapers, and as a columnist for

the past nine years, I was curious to find out more. That was my only

interest; simply, that it would make a good column for the coming Christmas

season.

After the class, I asked the person who had mentioned it where she had heard

about it. She directed me to a mutual friend who had a book and a video tape

on the background of the alleged appearances. After obtaining the materials

and reading the book, I still felt nothing other than curiosity. Several

nights later after getting our two young children to bed, my wife, Terri, and

I settled down to watch the video tape. What happened during the viewing of

that video changed my life completely.

About midway through watching the film, I suddenly "felt" a strong message

within myself. I really don't know how to explain it. I heard no audible

voice, but the message was there just as clear as though I had actually

heard it. In essence it said, "You are my son, and you are to do my Son's

work. Write about the events in Medugorje. Afterwards you will no longer be

in this work (newspapers), for your life will be devoted to the spreading of

the message."

Stunned and in a near state of shock, I sat up the entire night thinking

about what had happened. There was no doubt in my heart about the source of

the message or that it had actually happened. It was from Mary, the Blessed

Virgin. I just kept wondering, why me? I knew so little and felt totally

unworthy.

The columns tell the rest of the story. In December, I began a series of

four columns on the apparitions. Later, other articles giving my personal

feelings and updated information were added. Also, by the end of December,

we were contacted by a company that owned a chain of newspapers and in March,

1986, our four newspapers were sold, leaving us with a printing company and a

contract to print the same newspapers for the next four years.

Just as the Blessed Virgin Mary had predicted, my work is now dedicated to

spreading the Medugorje message on a full time basis.

For two years now, I have been traveling across the United States, and into

several foreign countries such as Ireland, giving lectures on the message of

Medugorje. I have made trips there and have come to personally know many of

the visionaries and priests.

All of the columns I wrote, beginning in December, 1985, are contained here.

After receiving hundreds of requests for them, I decided to print them into a

collected tabloid for easier distribution. The initial printing was 2,500 in

September, 1986. It was thought that that would be adequate for a year, as I

planned to use them only when giving talks. As of December, 1987, more than

eight million copies have been sent to all corners of the world, an incredible

miracle in itself since it was never intended that they be used outside of

Myrtle Beach, SC

I hope that as you read these columns and information on Medugorje, your

life, too, will change and your relationship with God will be strengthened.

Its message is simple and direct: return to the ways of God; pray as often

as possible for the salvation of this world; offer penance to God by giving

up useless things in your life. In other words, live the message that is

contained in the bible, for the message of Medugorje is the message of Jesus

Christ, urgently emphasized by his most holy messenger and mother, Mary.

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.

PART 1: THE APPARITIONS

Published Dec. 4, 1985

In the next four weeks of December, I am going to try to give as accurate an

account as possible of an event allegedly occurring in a small non-descript

village in the hills of central Yugoslavia. It is a supernatural religious

event and is therefore bound to be viewed in a skeptical sense by many; the

fact that the area is heavily Catholic will add to the skepticism.

Obviously, if I personally did not believe that there was something impor-

tant happening here, I would not be writing about it. However, let me say from

the outset, it is not an attempt to convert anyone to Catholicism, since I

myself am not Catholic; it is also not an attempt to convert anyone to a

belief in God. That is for the individual to determine based on information

and needs. I offer it simply as information timely to the Christmas season.

For the past four years and a half now, Medugorje (pronounced Med-u-gory),

a small village in the mountain area of central Yugoslavia, has attracted

world wide attention as the place where the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary,

is reported to be appearing almost daily to six young teenagers. As I write

this, the apparitions reportedly continue every day.

Despite government attempts to discredit the apparitions and to make visits

to the site difficult, millions have been and continue to come to the site to

see for themselves what is happening. Yugoslavia is of course, a communist

country, which does not recognize any religion or the existence of God. Yet

there is a heavily Catholic population that is grudgingly allowed to worship

within their churches.

According to the children called seers or visionaries, the message of the

Blessed Virgin is simple and direct: She is appearing to the seers to tell

the world of the urgency to return to the ways of God, to convert their lives

to peace with God and with their fellow man. She is to give each seer 10

messages, or "secrets" of happenings that will occur in the near future. These

messages will be visible signs to mankind that the apparitions at Medugorje

are real and that the conversion back to God must be started now. When she has

stopped appearing to the youths-a time known only by them-a permanent sign

will be left at Medugorje. it will lead to many healings and conversions in

the short time left before the messages become reality.

The way to conversion is prayer and fasting, according to the seers. Since

apparitions began on June 24, 1981. The seers spend as many as six hours or

more daily in prayer. They also fast up to three times a week on bread and

water only.

The range in the age of the six young people at Medugorje is noteworthy in

view of the skepticism of such an occurrence. When the apparitions began, one

was only ten years old, another was fifteen, three were sixteen, and one was

seventeen. Four are girls and two are boys.

Who are these young people to whom The Virgin Mary is allegedly appearing?

They are all very normal, but different from each other in personality

and as I have noted, in age. With one exception, all of them are of very

average intelligence. The exception is Mirjana Dragicivic. She is the third

oldest of the seers and attends college at the University of Sarajevo, where

her family now lives.

Marija Pavlovic is the oldest of the group. She is of average height and

thin and is the most serene and deeply spiritual of the seers. She plans on

becoming a nun.

Vicka Ivankovic, the second oldest, also plans on becoming a nun. She has

strong features and her face is very expressive. She is the charmer of the

group, although there is nothing "put-on" about her.

Ivanka Ivankovic, the youngest of the four girls is the only one of the

group who is planning marriage. She is the prettiest of the girls and seems

typical of today's teenagers, but is firmly religious.

Ivan Dragicivic, the older of the two boys wants to become a priest. he is

the most timid and retiring of the group and appears to be serious and pensive

most of the time.

The youngest and most lively, is thirteen year old Jakov Colo, who was only

ten when the apparitions began. Like the others, he is quite normal.

The presence of this young fidgety boy among the group of seers is very

special in terms of authenticity of the apparitions. Comparing him to, say,

our own children or brothers of this age, it would normally be highly improb-

able that he would go to church for two and three hours of prayer every single

day, in winter and summer, in bad weather and good, and do this for well over

four years, simply to make believe that he is seeing a holy apparition from

God.

In fact, the age and character of all the seers and the consistency of the

apparitions with them is strong evidence that something highly unusual is

happening.

There is so much to tell about Medugorje. Possibly the following excerpt,

taken from a report that was sent to the Pope at the request of Mary according

to the youths, will summarize this segment best. A Catholic priest named

Tomislav Vlasic, who has been involved in the apparitions almost from the very

first, was asked by Mirjana to do this. Here is a portion of that report:

According to Mirjana, during the apparition on December 25, 1982, the

Madonna confided the tenth and last secret to her, and she revealed the dates

on which the various secrets will come to pass. The Blessed Virgin revealed

many aspects of the future to Mirjana, many more up to now than the other

seers. For that reason, I relate now what Mirjana told me in a conversation

on November 5, 1983. I shall summarize the essential things she said, without

any literal quotations. Mirjana said: - Before the visible sign is given to

humanity, there will be three warnings to the world. The warnings will be

warnings on the earth. Mirjana will witness them. Three days before one of

these warnings, she will advise a priest of her choice. Mirjana's testimony

will be a confirmation of the apparitions and an incentive for the conversion

of the world. After these warnings, the visible sign will be given for all

humanity at the place of the apparitions in Medugorje. The sign will be given

as the testimony of the apparitions and a call back to faith.

- The ninth and tenth secrets are grave matters. They are a chastisement for

the sins of the world. The punishment is inevitable because we can not expect

the conversion of the entire world. The chastisement can be mitigated by

prayers and penance. It cannot be suppressed. An evil which threatened the

world, according to the seventh secret, had been eliminated through prayer

and fasting, Mirjana said. For that reason the Blessed Virgin continues to

ask for prayer and fasting: "You have forgotten that with prayer and fasting

you can ward off wars, suspend natural laws."

- After the first warning, the others will follow within a rather brief

amount of time. So it is that people will have time for conversion.

- This time is a period of grace and conversion. After the visible sign, those

who are still alive will have little time for conversion. For that reason,

the Blessed Virgin calls for urgent conversion and reconciliation.

- The invitation to prayer and penance is destined to ward off evil and war

and above all to save souls.

- According to Mirjana, we are close to the events predicted by the Blessed

Virgin. Because of this, Mirjana says to mankind: "Convert yourselves as

quickly as possible. Open your hearts to God."

Father Vlasic gave a little additional information about the secrets during

a taped interview in August, 1983: "They (the seers) say that with the real-

ization of the secrets entrusted to them by Our Lady, life in the world will

change, Afterwards, men (mankind) will believe like in ancient times. What

will change and how it will change, we will not know until the secrets are

revealed."

These few words imply a lot about the extraordinary events at Medugorje.

As for its authenticity, that is for each of us in our own hearts to decide.

THE SECRETS:

All six of the visionaries say that the secrets, in substance, affect the

whole world. There are private secrets for some of them, concerning their

future, and other secrets relating to the whole world. Only one of the

secrets has been revealed by the visionaries. Our Lady has promised to leave

a visible sign on the mountain where She first appeared. These are Our Lady's

words about the sign: "This sign will be given for the atheists. You faithful

already have signs and you have to 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. You can never thank God enough for his grace.

The time is for deepening your faith and for your conversion. When the sign

comes, it will be too late for many."

PART 2: CONVERSATIONS WITH MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS

Published Dec. 11, 1985

This is the second in this four-part series of columns I am doing for the

Christmas season. The interest in the first part has been excellent and

positive. Because of the nature of the subject, a supernatural religious

event, I am going to restate several things from last week's column.

First, I personally feel something terribly important and meaningful to

everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, is happening in Medugorje.

Because of the length of time that it has been occurring, daily for almost

five years now, and because of the age of the youths involved, I tend to

view it as an authentic miracle of our time. That is my personal belief. It

is up to the individual to determine based on the information available.

Here are selected bits of conversations reported by the seers, of conver-

sations with The Blessed Virgin Mary:

On the fourth evening of the apparitions, which began June 21, 1981, Ivanka

asked the lady her name. "I am the Blessed Virgin Mary." was the reply. Later,

Vicka said, "If you are Our Lady, stay with us. If you are not be gone!" The

lady smiled and remained.

Vicka asked: "Why have you come?" The reply: "I came because there are many

good believers here. I want to be with you, to convert and reconcile every-

one." Later on the same occasion, another seer Marija saw the lady on the way

down from the hill where the apparitions first began. She stopped suddenly,

ran to her left and dropped to her knees. There she says, "Our Lady was

standing before a cross, with tears in her eyes. She repeated several times:

"Peace, peace, peace, be reconciled with one another."

Many times during the apparitions, She has said, "Believe, as if you, too,

see."

On June 29th, the children asked specifically for the healing of a two-and-

a-half year old boy, who was mute and unable to walk. The seers asked the

Virgin Mary to heal him. Jakov reported her response: "Let his parents believe

that he will be healed." Later in the evening as the family of the boy was on

their way home, they stopped at a restaurant. The mute boy banged on the table

and said, "I want a drink." Since then, he is now able to talk and walk. She

has directed others to pray and fast and ask Jesus to be healed of their

specific ailments or handicaps. Many have been healed according to the reports

of the people there.

Again, concerning healing Mary has told the seers: "I cannot heal; only God

can. I need your prayers and sacrifices to help me."

Continuing: (speaking urgently on the need for conversion) "The only word I

wish to say is 'conversion!' To the whole world. I am saying this to you to

tell everybody. I ask only for conversion. Be ready for everything and be

converted. Give up everything that goes against conversion.

On prayer and faith: "Let them (those in Medugorje and the visitors; also

those who hear about Medugorje) believe as if they see; believe firmly. There

are many believers who do not pray; faith cannot be alive without prayer."

When the children asked at the request of a priest if people should pray to

Jesus or to Mary, her answer was: "Please pray to Jesus. I am His Mother and

I intercede for you with Him. But all prayer goes to Jesus. I will help. I

will pray, but everything does not depend only on me. It depends also on your

strength, the strength of those who pray."

On why she has chosen to appear in Medugorje: "I have chosen this parish

in a special way. I want to protect you and guide you in love. And therefore,

I ask for a total conversion of the parish so that the pilgrims can find a

fountain of conversion here." At the time of this message, she also recommen-

ded a special passage from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 24-34.

During a special holy week in 1984, The Virgin Mary said to the parish

through the young seer Jelena: "Raise your hands and open your hearts. Now,

in the moment of the resurrection, Jesus wants to give you a particular gift.

It is this: You will undergo trials with great ease. We will be nearby and

will show you the way out if you will accept us. Don't say that the Holy Year

is now over and there is no more need to pray. On the contrary, reinforce

your prayers, because the Holy Year is just one step forward." After this,

Jelena reported that she saw the risen Jesus. Brilliant light radiated from

His wounds onto the people. Jesus said: "Receive my graces and tell the whole

there will be happiness only through Me."

A final note on this part of the articles. Today, the entire parish of

Medugorje, with, of course, a very few exceptions, attends church services

daily. These services usually last for more than three hours. The greatest

miracle of Medugorje that is proven fact, is the total conversion of the

community that was already faithful by today's standards.

COLUMNS ARE ANOTHER "MIRACLE"

It was never intended that the columns published here would be distributed

outside of the Myrtle Beach area. They were published as a collected work to

make it easier to ship them, due t the overwhelming number of requests from

people all over the country and many foreign countries.

Twenty-five hundred were originally printed and it was thought that they

would last well over a year. That was in December, 1986. As of December, 1987,

the total printed and shipped is over eight million copies. It now takes three

printing plants located in different parts of the country to keep up with

demand.

The "miracle" here is that none of this was planned; it just happened, like

so many other events connected with the apparitions at Medugorje. These

columns are now the most widely circulated information on the apparitions of

Medugorje.

Those who send for them and distribute them to their churches, their prayer

groups, their families, are doing the will of Our Lady of Medugorje. May

Jesus and His Blessed Mother Mary continue to bless you for your help. -w.w.

PART 3: INTERVIEWS WITH THE SEERS

Published Dec. 18, 1985

It hardly seems possible that three weeks have passed since I began running

this very special series of columns concerning reports of the Blessed Virgin

Mary, the Mother of God, appearing to a group of young people in Yugoslavia.

While it is by far one of the most difficult subjects I have attempted to

write about, it is also the most satisfying from the standpoint of having done

something worthwhile. Professionally, I want readers to see it as objective

and informational; personally, I want it to inspire everyone who reads it to

strengthen their relationship with God and fellow man. That is the purpose of

running it during the celebration of Christmas.

This week, interviews with two of the young people are featured. The answers

given were taken straight from a tape recording of the conversations with

them. Parts of the interviews were excluded at my discretion so that I could

run as much of them as possible.

(Excerpts taken from: "The apparitions of Our Lady at Medugorje", by

Svetozar Kraljevic, O.F.M.)

Interview with Mirjana Dragicevic

By Fr. Tomislav Vlasic

Medugorje

January 10, 1983

T: Mirjana, we have not seen each other for some time, and I would like you

to tell me about the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and especially

with the events that are connected to you.

M: I have seen the Blessed Virgin Mary for eighteen months now, and feel I

know Her very well. I feel she loves me with Her Motherly love, and so I have

been able to ask Her about anything I would like to know. I've asked her to

explain some things about Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell that were not clear to

me. For example, I asked Her how God can be so unmerciful as to throw people

into Hell, to suffer forever. I thought: If a person commits a crime and goes

to jail, he stays there for a while and then is forgiven - but to Hell,

forever? She told me that souls who go to Hell have ceased thinking favorably

of God - have cursed Him, more and more. So they've already become a part of

Hell, and choose not to be delivered from it.

Then she told me that there are levels in Purgatory: Levels close to Hell and

higher and higher toward Heaven. Most people, she said, think many souls are

released from Purgatory into Heaven on All Saints' Day, but most souls are

taken into Heaven on Christmas Day.

T: Did you ask why God allows Hell?

M: No, I did not. But afterward I had a discussion with my aunt, who told me

how merciful God is. So I said I would ask the Madonna how God could......

T: According to what you've said, then; It's simple as this: People who oppose

God on earth just continue their existence after death, and oppose God in Hell?

M: Really, I thought if a person goes to Hell....Don't people pray for their

salvation? Could God be so unmerciful as not to hear their prayers? Then the

Madonna explained it to me. People in Hell do not pray at all; instead, they

blame God for everything. In effect, they become one with Hell and they get

used to it. They rage against God, and they suffer, but they always refuse to

pray to God.

T: To ask Him for salvation?

M: In Hell, they hate Him even more.

T: As for Purgatory, you say that souls who pray frequently are sometimes

allowed to communicate, at least by messages, with people on earth, and that

they receive the benefits of prayers said on earth?

M: Yes. Prayers that are said on earth for souls who have not prayed for their

salvation are applied to souls in purgatory who pray for their salvation.

T: Did the Madonna tell you whether many people go to Hell today?

M: I asked her about that recently, and She said that, today, most people go

to purgatory, the next greatest number go to Hell, and only a few go directly

to Heaven.

T: Only a few go to Heaven?

M: Yes only a few - the least number - go to Heaven.

T: Did you ask about the conditions for a person to enter Heaven?

M: No I didn't; but, we can probably say what they are. God is not looking for

great believers but simply for those who respect their faith and live peace-

fully, without malice, meanness, falsehood.

T: This is your interpretation, your understanding?

M: Yes. After I talked to the Madonna, I came to that conclusion; No one has

to do great miracles or do great penance; merely live a simple, peaceful life.

T: Well, besides Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, is there anything else new

recently?

M: The Madonna told me that I should tell the people that many in our time

judge their faith by their priests. If a priest is not holy, they conclude

that there is no God. She said: "You do not go to church to judge the priest,

to examine his personal life. You go to church to pray and to hear the word

of God from the priest." This must be explained to the people, because many

turn away from the faith because of priests.

Today, as it was a long time ago, the Virgin told me God and the devil

conversed, and the devil said that people believe in God only when life is

good for them. When things turn bad, they cease to believe in God. Then people

blame God, or act as if he does not exist. God, therefore, allowed the devil

one century in which to exercise an extended power over the world, and the

devil chose the twentieth century. Today, as we can see all around us, every-

one is dissatisfied; they cannot abide each other. Examples are the number of

divorces and abortions. All this, the Madonna said, is the work of the devil.

T: This behavior of people - they're under the influence of the devil. But the

devil does not have to be in them?

M: No, no. The devil is not in them, but they're under the influence of the

devil, although he enters into some of them.

To prevent this, at least to some extent, the Madonna said we need communal

prayer, family prayer. She stressed the need for family prayer most of all.

Also, every family should have at least one sacred object in the house, and

houses should be blessed regularly.

She also emphasized the failings of religious people, especially in small

villages - for example, here in Medugorje, where there is separation from

Serbians (i.e., Serbian Orthodox) and Moslems. This separation is not good.

The Madonna always stresses that there is but one God, and that people have

enforced unnatural separation. One cannot truly believe, be a true Christian,

if he does not respect other religions as well. You do not really believe in

God if you make fun of other religions.

T: What, then, is the role of Jesus Christ, if the Moslem religion is a good

religion?

M: We did not discuss that. She merely explained, and deplored, the lack of

religious unity, "especially in the villages." She said that everybody's

religion should be respected, and, of course, one's own.

T: Tell me where the devil is especially active today. Did she tell you any-

thing about this? Through whom or what does he manifest himself the most?

M: Most of all through people of weak character, who are divided within them-

selves. Such people are everywhere, and they are the easiest for the devil to

enter. But he also enters the lives of strong believers - sisters, for

example. He would rather "convert" real believers than nonbelievers. How can

I explain this? You saw what happened to me. He tries to bring as many

believers as possible to himself.

T: Can we suppose, then, that one of you might say that three secrets would

be revealed before the great sign appears; then the rest of the secrets will

be revealed, one by one? Is there anything to that?

M: Nothing like that, but something like this. First, some secrets will be

revealed - just a few. Then the people will be convinced that the Madonna was

here. They will understand the sign. When Jakov said that the mayor will

be the first one to run to the hill, he meant that generally people of the

highest social class will understand the sign as a place of occasion to con-

vert. They will run to the hill and pray, and they will be forgiven. When I

asked the Madonna about unbelievers, She said: "They should be prayed for, and

they should pray." But when I asked again, recently, She said: "Let them

convert while there is still time." She did not say they should be prayer for.

T: You can say nothing specifically until the moment the Madonna says you can?

M: Yes

T: What does the Madonna say? Can we prepare ourselves for what will happen?

M: Yes, prepare! The Madonna said people should prepare themselves spiritually,

be ready, and not panic; be reconciled in their souls. They should be ready

for the worst, to die tomorrow. They should accept God now so that they will

not be afraid. They should accept God, and everything else. No one accepts

death easily, but they can be at peace in their souls if they are believers.

If they are committed to God, He will accept them.

T: This means total conversion and surrender to God?

M: Yes

T: After these ten secrets, after these eighteen months of apparitions, what

do you tell the people they should do? What do you say to priests, to the Pope

and Bishops, without revealing the secrets? What does the Madonna want us to

do?

M: First, I would like to tell you how it was for me at the end, and the.....

T: All right.

M: Two days before Christmas, the Madonna told me Christmas day would be the

last time she would appear to me. (I didn't quite believe this.) On Christmas

Day, she stayed with me for forty-five minutes and we talked about many

things. We summarized everything that had been said between us. On behalf of

many people, I asked what they should do. Then She gave me a very precious

gift. She said She would appear to me on my birthday every year for the rest

of my life. Also, independently of the sign - and anything else - She said

She will appear to me when something very difficult happens - not some every-

day difficulty, but something quite grievous. Then, She will come to help me.

But now, I have to live without Her physical presence, without Her daily

personal visits. I say to all people: Convert! - the same as She said.

"Convert while there is time!" Do not abandon God and your faith. Abandon

everything else, but not that!

T: What is the greatest danger to mankind? What does it come from?

M: From godlessness. Nobody believes - hardly anybody. For example, the

Madonna told me that the faith in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria is very

weak. The people in those countries model themselves on their priests, and if

the priests are not good examples, the people fall away and believe there is

no God. When I was in Askona I heard of a priest to whom a rich man had left

money to build a home for old people, but instead, the priest built a hotel.

Now all the people in that city have turned their backs on the faith, because

how could a priest not fulfill the last wish of a dying man and, instead,

build a hotel and make money for himself? Nevertheless, people must understand

that they shouldn't scrutinize a priest's private life, but listen to what

he says through God - God's word.

T: Before we finish this interview, is there anything you would like to add?

M: She said some things that are for me personally. She advised me on various

matters. Then She said: "Go in God's peace!"

T: Did She talk to you about the other visionaries and further apparitions?

M: She told me I am - well, more mature than the others and therefore I must

help them, spend time with them and talk with them. This will make things

easier for them and for me. We are to understand each other and stay

together - united.

T: She did not mention further developments or apparitions, either individ-

ually or to all of you as a group?

M: I think that when each individual learns the tenth secret, she will cease

appearing to that person.

Interview with Ivanka Ivankovic

By Fr. Svetozar Kraljevic

February, 1983

S: Ivanka, you and Mirjana were taking a walk together that day. Why were you

walking together?

I: We regularly walked together in that area. We had been at my house; then we

decided to take our walk.

S: Who was with you besides Mirjana?

I: At first, just Mirjana and myself. When we returned to my house, Milka,

Marija's sister, asked us to go with her to get the sheep and bring them home.

S: So the two of you went with Milka to get the sheep?

I: The first time, Mirjana and I were walking alone, and as we were returning

to the village I happened to look toward the hill - and I saw a figure of the

Madonna, bright and shining. I said to Mirjana: "Look, the Madonna!" Mirjana

dismissed what I said with a wave of her hand, as if I'd been joking, and she

said: "It's not very likely that the Madonna would appear to us." So we con-

tinued to walk toward the village. Mirjana did not even look where I pointed

to the hill. When we got to Milka's house, Milka said: "Help me get the sheep

and bring them home." So we turned around and started walking back to the

fields. This time, all three of us saw the Madonna. We knelt down and prayed;

then we got the sheep and chased them home. Later, Vicka and Ivan and the

other Ivan joined us.

S: On that first day, you saw the Madonna twice?

I: Yes. The first time when Mirjana and I were walking back to the village,

and the second time when we went with Milka to get the sheep.

S: Who saw the Madonna first?

I: I did.

S: What did you say when you saw her?

I: I said: "Look, Mirjana, the Madonna!"

S: Then what did you do? Where did you go?

I: We went to Milka's. We stopped in front of her house and she asked us to

help her get the sheep. Then the three of us went to get the sheep to bring

them home. When we passed the hill, I saw the Madonna again, this time hold-

ing the Baby Jesus in her hands. Mirjana and Milka also looked, and they too

saw the Madonna.

S: What did seeing the Madonna mean to you?

I: It meant everything in the world!

S: When you talk with the Madonna in your visions, we cannot hear you speak.

I: We speak out loud, the same as now.

S: Let me put it this way. Do you speak with the Madonna mentally - that is

She understands what you think - or do you speak to her in a low voice, a

whisper, so we cannot hear you? Or is your conversation miraculous - beyond

our power to hear and understand?

I: I speak with Her normally, the same as I'm speaking now. Also, I hear Her

voice and words in the normal way, as well as what the others say.

S: In your visions, have you ever asked favors for anybody?

I: I have, in the beginning, I asked a favor for little Daniel.

S: What did the Madonna say?

I: She says the same thing She always says: Strong faith and prayer will help.

S: What do you mean, "strong faith and prayer"? For what?

I: To believe and pray for a healing.

S: Did you ever ask for anybody in your family who had passed away?

I: Yes, I asked for my father not long ago, and she said the same thing.

S: What did Our Lady say?

I: She said my mother is with her, and that I should obey and not worry.

S: You were saddened by your mother's death, and because of that the Madonna

came to comfort you.

I: I don't know; but I don't think so. We asked her why, of all people, She

appeared to us. She said She does not always seek out the best people.

S: To whom are the Madonna's messages sent?

I: To the whole world.

S: What are the messages?

I: Peace, Conversion, Fasting, Penance, Prayer.

S: Which is the most important?

I: Peace.

S: Why peace?

I: When everyone in the world is at peace, everything is possible.

S: You mentioned prayer. Tell me honestly, how do you pray?

I: When I get up in the morning, I pray seven Our Fathers and the Credo. At

noon, I pray the Angelus. In the evening, I pray seven Our Fathers and the

Credo, and sometimes the rosary. When we are all home together, we pray an

evening prayer.

S: It is known that the Madonna recommended that all of you enter a convent.

I: She told us it is Her wish that we enter a convent - but only those who

have such a wish. She does not want anyone to disgrace the faith and the

Church.

S: I believe that everyone is free to choose, and you are free as well. Have

you decided what to do in this connection?

I: To tell you the truth, as I feel right now, I do not want to enter the

convent. I can live a Christian life, the same as a nun, raising .......

S: Bearing in mind what you know about the future, tell me if the Madonna of

Medugorje will reconcile the world even more.

I: I think She will.

S: Will the "Great Sign" help in achieving this?

I: Yes, when the time comes. More believers will come to church.

S: Will the sign appear very soon, or later?

I: It will appear at the proper time.

S: Ivanka, are you in any way fearful of being able to do what the Madonna

expects of you in this life?

I: Why should I be afraid when God is with me? God gives me whatever strength

I need.

S: You speak to the people of the Madonna's messages, but some do not believe

you. In that case what do you do?

I: I pray for them, that God will enlighten them.

S: Can you do anything else?

I: I will go on trying to persuade them. They will be convinced, once they ...

S: I believe that, but in the meantime people become nervous. It is difficult

to wait for that day. What should people do?

I: Pray that God will give us the strength to endure.

S: There are those who are opposed to the Madonna. What would you tell them?

I: I'd tell them: Convert! There is a God. That is it!

S: Can those who oppose the Madonna frustrate Her plans in the world?

I: You mean the great sign

S: Yes.

I: No. All their armaments and explosives could not destroy it.

S: Can they do harm to the souls of the people and to the Madonna's plans for

the people?

I: No.

S: Does that mean that the Madonna is stronger than they?

I: Normally She is. It is Jesus who decides - God. Not the Madonna.

S: Tell me about this.

I: I think that God has sent Her here. When we asked Her for a sign, I think

She asked Jesus and He gave Her a sign. Then She promised to give us a sign.

S: That means She can not act independently on Her own. She must do the will

of God, as she always has.

I: I believe so.

S: It is important that people of good faith, regardless of denomination, not

be turned against each other. But tell me more about this. What did the

Madonna say about this?

I: The Madonna said that religions are separated in the earth, but the people

of all religions are accepted by Her Son.

S: Does that mean that all people go to Heaven?

I: It depends on what they deserve.

S: Yes, but many have never heard about Jesus.

I: Jesus knows all about that; I don't. The Madonna said, basically, religions

are similar; but many people have separated themselves, because of religion,

and become enemies of each other.

S: I thank you, Ivanka, for this conversation and testimony!

PART 3: INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TO MEDUGORJE

Published Jan. 15, 1986

I sincerely apologize to all of you for not having this article in last week's

edition, but unfortunately the flu bug won out and I was totally out of it for

almost a full week. This is the final part of a four-part series begun back in

the first week of December. It is in the form of statements from two people

who live here in this area who have actually been to Medugorje to witness

first-hand the events happening there.

Rather than doing a question-answer type of interview, I have chosen to do

them in statement form for the sake of brevity and easier reading.

The interviews are: Jim Stoffel, who resides in North Myrtle Beach, and

Reverend Sylvester Scotti, priest of the St. Phillips Catholic Church in

Lake City.

Jim Stoffel is a golf pro at Carolina Shores Golf Club in North Myrtle Beach.

he and his wife, Rosie, have been living here since 1972. They were joined by

Hal and Peggy Todd, also of North Myrtle Beach, in a trip to Medugorje in

October, 1985. I use the comments of Jim that were given at a meeting at his

church back in November, shortly after they had returned. Again, because of

the limited space I can devote to this, I use only his comments, even though

the others had much to say about the trip. Perhaps at a later time, we can do