The Virgin Mary

Pictures, Imformation and Links regarding The Virgin Mary

Ever since the early days of the Christian Church, Mary the mother of Jesus has been held in high esteem and reverence. Her image has inspired artists throughout the generations and pictures of her are found in most churches and the homes of Catholics.

She has inspired countless prayers, religious orders and acts of piety and charity.

Many Scholars find in her representations and the reverence with which she is regarded echhos of the ancient worship of the female principle in creation - the Goddess. Many Christians call her the 'Queen of Heaven' and 'the Mother of God', concepts that would have been foreign to Jesus and his disciples. However these universal qualities make her acessible to millions of the faithful and to many of no faith as her universal qualities of Love, Compassion and Forgiveness inspire hope in honest people around the world.

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

On 24 June 1981, in the mountain parish of Medjugorje, in what was then Yugoslavia, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to six young people. Next day, She appeared again to four of those six, together with two others. Those six (four girls and two boys) of the second day became the definite visionaries -- their christian names being Ivanka, Mirjana, Vicka, Ivan, Marija and Jakov. On the second day, Our Lady spoke, and ever since, She has been (with a few exceptions in the early days) appearing daily to all, or some of the six. The apparitions have taken place at various sites, and occasionally to individual visionaries while travelling outside Bosnia. Secrets have been given to each, and there have been countless messages. Our Lady has identified herself in Medjugorje as the Blessed Virgin, Queen of Peace, and her central message is peace - peace with God and man.

Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in Medjugorje

She has told the young people: "I have come to tell the world that God exists. He is the fullness of life, and to enjoy this fullness and obtain peace, you must return to God." In bringing the world back to her Son, Mary has been sent by the Father to help in various ways to make Medjugorje a model parish.

During the apparitions, the visionaries do not react to light, they do not hear any earthly sound, they do not react to being touched. They have been subjected to many scientific tests even during the apparitions, and the findings are well documented. While with Our Lady they feel they are outside time and space.

According to six visionaries, as well as millions of believers, the Virgin Mary began appearing in the tiny Balkan village of Medjugorje (med-you-gor-yeh) on June 24th, 1981. She has appeared every day since. Her messages, intended for all humanity, ask people to place God first in their lives.

Medjugorje visionaries

The visionaries…Ivan, Marija, Ivanka, Jakov, Vicka and Mirjana… claim that Gospa -- the Croatian word for 'Our Lady' -- has been giving them each ten secrets concerning the future of the world. These secrets are said to include miracles and worldwide events that will be sent by God to convert humanity. The daily apparitions stopped for Mirjana, Ivanka and Jakov after they received all ten secrets. However, Ivan, Marija and Vicka still see the Virgin Mary every day.

It is said The Bishop of Mostar is not supportive of the Medjugorje apparitions, but that the Vatican shows a great deal of interest. Many bishops, priests and other clergy claim that Pope John Paul the Second strongly believed in Medugorje. He had met personally with at least three of the visionaries. After Pope John Paul II's death, the Medjugorje visionary Ivan saw him during an apparition with Our Lady. The Pope appeared young and joyful.

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