Apparitions of Our Blessed Mother Mary

Medugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovnia

In 1981, in a small village of then communist Yugoslavia, our Blessed Virgin Mary began daily apparitions to six children: Vicka Ivankovic - age 16, Miranja Dragicevic - age 16, Marija Pavlovic - age 16, Ivan Dragicevic - age 16, Ivanka Ivankovic - age 15, and Jakov Colo - age 10. Through these visionaries, Our Blessed Mother has been sending messages to the world pleading that people follow what is referred to today as the "The Five Stones" in order to overcome the power and influence of sin in our lives. Her purpose is to guide each one of us back to her son Jesus. Below is a photo of the five visionaries during the time of their early apparitions.

The five "stones" of salvation are: daily BIBLE reading, at least monthly CONFESSIONS, at least weekly partaking of the EUCHARIST, FASTING on Wednesdays and Fridays, and daily praying of the ROSARY. Our Lady warns us that the time to convert is now and it is urgent that we follow her instructions! As with Fatima, secrets are being conveyed to the visionaries - 10 to be exact. However, it is not certain that all visionaries receive the same secrets, since they do not speak of them even amongst themselves. Additionally, the visionaries receive the 10 secrets at varying times. Some have already received all 10. Others have not.

The photo above is the site of the first apparition. A statue has been erected on this mountain which has been given the name "Apparition Hill."

Another infamous structure is located on the top of "Cross Mountain," shown below. This is a mountain not far from Apparition Hill, also in the town of Medjugorje. Construction of the cross was complete on March 5, 1934 and according to our lady "the cross was also in God's plan" when it was built.

It is estimated that >50,000,000 people have pilgrimaged to Medjugorje since the apparitions began in 1981. When asked, pilgrims describe Medjugorje with very similar words: "There is something about this place, it is a place unlike any I have ever experienced. It is a place of overwhelming peace." Ironic, since Our Lady has referred to herself as "The Queen of Peace" in Medjugorje.

Those who visit are tend to seek the extraordinary and spiritual side of this holy place. To satisfy people's craving, many claim to experience amazing occurances including miraculous healings, spiritual healings, and visual miracles. In fact, many who may have previously been formally diagnosed with illness, following prayer and spending some time in Medjugorje, become free of their medical and their spiritual conditions. Those who are seeking a more tangible experience are frequently satisfied if they happen be lucky enough to see the " Miracle of the Sun." It has been common that photos and video do not pick up the nature of the Miracle of the Sun but those who do experience it have described seeing a Eucharist or the face of Our Lady or Jesus, on the sun. Others witness a pulsating sun that appears like a beating heart. Still others visualize the outer ring of the sun spinning upon itself. The photo below is an unusually clear image of another great claim by visitors, a black dot in the center of the sun.

The photo below was taken by a nun who was invited to sit with the visionaries during an apparition. She photographed the wall that the children were looking at (only the visionaries are able to see our Blessed Mother, hear her speak, and speak with her, and despite lip readers attempting to understand what the visionaries are saying, it has been determined that they are not speaking a language of this earth). The children were in their usual state of ecstacy at the time this photo was taken. This one took place inside a room in St. James church, in Medjugorje. When she developed the film, there was no wall. Instead, what you are looking at is the image seen in that photo.

After some photo retouching, here is a more clear image: