25 YEARS OF VISIONS: A Reflective Look at Medjugorje

By Elizabeth Ficocelli

Anniversaries are a good time for reflection. June 25, 2006 marks the 25th anniversary of the ongoing apparitions of Medjugorje, making them the longest running reported apparitions in recorded history. Once an obscure village in what is now known as Bosnia-Hercegovina, Medjugorje has become one of the most popular Marian shrines today, hosting as many as 30 million visitors from around the world. It is here where it is claimed that the Virgin Mary has been reported to deliver daily messages for a quarter of a century, calling the world back to God.

What are apparitions and what do they mean for Catholics today? An apparition is the claimed appearance of Jesus, Mary, or one of the saints to a seer, or visionary. Most of the time these visions are accompanied by specific messages. The Catholic Church defines apparitions as “private revelation.” Since the Church teaches that everything necessary for our salvation has already been revealed in Sacred Scripture (“public” revelation), Catholics are not obligated to believe in any reported apparition. However, the Church in its infinite wisdom recognizes the possibility that God may wish to continue to communicate with his people. This concept should not surprise us. As parents, for example, we may have taught our children everything they need to know to survive in life, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to step in once in a while to remind them of these truths when we see them stray off the path.

The Church also recognizes that messages conveyed by God to human individuals can be beneficial to enhancing the spirituality of the faithful. Therefore, the Church carefully scrutinizes supernatural claims to see if they are indeed authentic. This can include psychological analysis of the visionaries to see that they are of sound mind; scientific testing in more modern times; documentation of healings and other miracles and, most importantly, assurance that any reported messages are in accordance with Gospel teaching.

When an apparition is reported, it becomes the local bishop’s responsibility to investigate the matter. In the case of Medjugorje, the bishop was at first a firm believer in the apparitions. Over time, however, he changed his position. Some speculate it was due to the threat of Communist oppression or possibly because of a dispute between the diocese and the local Franciscans. In any event, it became a rather awkward situation. Millions of pilgrims were pouring into the former-Yugoslavian village from all over the world, even in the midst of a bloody civil war.  In an unprecedented move, the Vatican finally ordered a special commission of local bishops to resolve the matter once and for all. After years of careful study, the bishops’ conclusion was inconclusive. They could not prove that the events of Medjugorje were supernatural; neither, however, could they prove them false.

A further complication with Medjugorje is that the apparitions are ongoing. Therefore, it would be imprudent for the Church to give its endorsement at this point. The best it can do is see that the pilgrims who travel to Medjugorje in staggering numbers are receiving the Mass and the sacraments in accord with Catholic teaching, and then—something the Church has much experience in doing—simply watch and wait.

The faithful, therefore, are permitted to travel to Medjugorje. They go for many reasons—spiritual renewal, physical healing, or perhaps simple curiosity. And there they discover a personal invitation to return to God through daily heartfelt prayer, frequent Eucharist, weekly fasting, monthly confession, and a rediscovery of Holy Scripture. No priest, bishop, cardinal, or pope could argue with such fruits. In Medjugorje, there are signs in the sky and people cured of diseases, but by far the most miraculous of all are the conversions of mind, heart, and spirit. It is evident in the joyful multi-lingual praise and worship, the penitence, and the peace that surrounds this tiny village.

No one knows how long the apparitions of Medjugorje will last. We can only reflect on what they’ve accomplished in Catholics and non-Catholics alike over these past twenty-five years, and pray that if this is God communicating with us today, we have the wisdom and courage to respond to his invitation.

The Fruits of Medjugorje: Stories of True and Lasting Conversion, Paulist Press (May 2006), from best-selling Catholic author Elizabeth Ficocelli, is available through www.elizabethficocelli.com or by contacting your local bookseller.

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