Medjugorje

Father Bob Bedard, CC

The word Medjugorje, means in Croatian, we’re told, between the mountains. The small hamlet is in the relatively new republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, one of four independent states that broke off, after the collapse of Communism in eastern Europe, from their previous union with Serbia, the union which had been known as Jugoslavia (the country of the south Slavs). The other new nations are Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro. Serbia and Macedonia have hung in together and continue to be known as Jugoslavia.


Medjugorje is nestled between the Herzegovinian hills. It is best known in the Catholic world as the site of the reported apparitions that began in Medjugorje June, 1981 and have continued every day for the last 25 years. Millions have visited there during that time. Nothing more than jagged rocks mark the place of the Blessed Mother’s supposed appearances in the beginning. Vigorously denied and opposed by the communist regime, the people involved were harassed brutally. A heavenly personality visiting an atheistic country? How very embarrassing for the government!

Coming to their senses eventually, and realizing the economic bonanza it could become, the territorial officials softened their stand and actually began to co-operate with the visitors and those who organized the crowds coming. Now the place is built up with hotels, stores, and all kinds of conveniences. If a lot of people are going to come into our country, the government reasoned, bringing money with them, we might as well get in on it. My own question is why it took them so long to figure it out. Maybe it meant that the average communist of the time wasn’t too bright.

Medjugorje is in the diocese of Mostar-Duvno and the parish is in the care of the Franciscans.

The local bishop, the Most Rev. Ratko Peric, visited the parish, St. James by name, June 15 , ’06 to preside at the Sacrament of Confirmation. On that occasion, he reminded his listeners that the Church has never affirmed the claims of the visionaries and he urged them to stop making public claims of authenticity. The whole thing is spurious, he said.

He reminded the people of the interim decision rendered by the Conference of Croatian Bishops about ten or twelve years ago which declared that no supernatural intervention could be attached to the alleged apparitions. Furthermore, the body of bishops forbade any official diocesan pilgrimage, as occur regularly at Lourdes and Fatima, from being undertaken. But, it was understood, individuals could visit and such persons should be provided with the appropriate pastoral services.

The Vatican has never ruled on the authenticity, or lack of it, of the phenomena. The simple reason for Rome’s silence is that such decisions are never made until the reported apparitions cease. They’re said to be still going on daily.

Bishop Peric said Pope Benedict expressed the same sentiments when the Croatian bishops met with him at their recent “ad limina” (every 5 years) visit. He made reference as well to several Franciscans, having been suspended, who have continued to administer the Sacraments. This disobedience is a poor example, he said, to the faithful.

The Medjugorje controversy rages on. I have no opinion any more about the genuineness of the visions. What I do know is that large crowds continue to gather and virtually every person I’m aware of who has visited the site has been rather richly blessed. In addition, the fact is that many pilgrims have been converted there. If skeptics are becoming believers, making their first Confession in 30, 40, or 50 years, the grace of the Holy Spirit is obviously at work.

The authenticity of Medjugorje may officially be in doubt, but it seems without dispute that the Lord is working there. Our Lady, too.