Vicka was documented on film during a recent 'purported' apparition of the Blessed Virgin. The seer's joy is visible, and I might add, delightful to witness. She obviously enjoys speaking to whoever is present to her.
No, I am not endorsing Medjugorje or Vicka's claims, I await what the Church has to say regarding the apparitions and messages. Nor do I 'follow' the events at Medjugorje, although I haven't ignored them either.
* * *
A word on alchemy. Medieval alchemists tried to change base metals into gold. On many occasions, while visiting dubious apparition sites, pilgrims have claimed that their rosaries turned to gold. Interestingly enough, a pious lady once gave me such a rosary - the gold color turned out to be the base metal of the chain. Was there a chemical, atmospheric 'alchemical' effect that caused it to happen? I don't know - yet the color wasn't really gold, but brass - the same as the metal.
When world's collide: I opened up my "Baltimore Sun" this morning and you were being quoted.
ReplyDeleteNot enough to assuage my skepticism over Medjugorje. And I think the Church will take a looooong time to evaluate and render a decision over what went on there. Perhaps it may leave it perpetually unanswered.
ReplyDeleteThis girl is a piker compared to me.
ReplyDeleteI see the most terrible presence in all creation every time I go before the Blessed Sacrament.
I am overjoyed that He has granted salvation to us.
*
“Man can never be sure or objective, because his thinking, his opinion, never leaves him. If one doesn’t allow oneself to be convinced, if one clings to one’s naturally limited judgement, events will continue to occur without us. This is what happened at Medjugorje. Whether one is convinced or skeptical, for or against, the years pass by at Medjugorje; the signs remain, the fruits remain. And Our Lady’s invitation to peace is still valid.”
ReplyDelete• Fr Jozo Zovko, the parish priest at Medjugorje at the time the claimed apparitions began in 1981. He was later falsely accused and imprisoned by the communists for his stance on Medjugorje.
You may want to check the testimony of Coleen Willard and hear her speak about the role of Vicka in her miraculous healing.
http://en.gloria.tv/?media=39412.
Vicka is not without her own difficulties. She has experienced much physical suffering over the years but looks on it as a gift from God. And she is always smiling and has time for everyone.
Pilgrim - I'm always impressed by Vicka's obvious joy and genuine charity.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a healthy attitude to question, even be skeptical at times. As for rosaries turning “gold” in colour, I suppose it’s possible, but I’ve never come across a story where someone has had their gold-turning rosary checked out by a jeweller.
ReplyDeleteAnd never have I come across a claim about anyone’s stringed wooden beads changing colour in an instant.
But here’s a story that demonstrates how God can make good of our skepticism, valid or not. Michael is an acquaintance of mine who freely distributes rosary beads around the world to those in need.
• “Michael had heard of the various ‘miracles’ happening at Medjugorje. But when he was there he neither expected nor saw any such ‘signs and wonders’. However, on the journey back home one of the pilgrims found that the silver chain of his rosary had become a light gold colour. This caused excitement amongst the pilgrims and Michael wasn’t alone in looking at his rosary to find out whether his had changed – but it hadn’t.
“The plane carrying the pilgrims landed in England and after driving home from the airport Michael took another look at his rosary. He was surprised to find that the silver chain had now changed into a light gold colour.
Nothing happens without a reason and over the next few weeks Michael was to discover just why the change had happened.
“Michael is a Eucharist Minister and takes Holy Communion to residential and nursing homes for the elderly. In one of the homes resided husband and wife, Philip and Nellie. On his next visit Michael told them about his Rosary and showed it to them. Philip is an exemplary Catholic, very devoted to Our Lady and to the Rosary. He is also blind; so Nellie explained to her husband about the light gold colour of the chain. When Michael made another visit the following week, Nellie was excited to show him Philip’s rosary. The silver had become bright gold, as bright as brass!
“Nothing happens without a reason and there is a happy sequel to this story. Philip and Nellie preferred not to receive Holy Communion from a lay person; so week after week they missed the chance of receiving the Eucharist. But following the change to Philip’s rosary, he and Nellie had second thoughts and decided that they would receive communion from Michael.
“Five weeks later Philip died, fortified by the Rites of the Church. But on his death-bed he was to ill to receive Holy Communion. The last time he received was a few days earlier when Michael had come to see him. It was not too difficult to understand the change in rosaries belonging to Michael and Philip was Our Lady’s way of ensuring Philip would receive the Eucharist before he died!”
Thanks Pilgrim - that is an edifying story and helps to explain the significance of the rosaries being transformed. God is so good.
ReplyDeleteI think she's just happy cause she's gonna get paid that day :-)
ReplyDelete20 years ago I went from being a suicidal, very sinful teenager to a faithful Catholic because I read one book on Medjugorje. I have always thanked Our Lady for coming to call me with so much love and in many ways that I could never even attempt to explain (even though I am a sinful man). During those first years of my conversion every Rosary I prayed on for more than a week would turn to gold. I stopped praying with metal Rosaries because it caused a lot of distractions with other people in church. I believe in Medjugorje and I wonder why any Catholic would not believe knowing the fruit that has come from there. That should be enough to convince even the hardest hearts.
ReplyDeletePeace
What a wonderful testimony. God keep you faithful! This is the fruit of Medjugorje - converted hearts. So much discussion, so many opinions...at the end of the day we are invited to plunge into the very life of God Himself, and this is what our Mother Mary is constantly and tirelessly asking us to do. How wonderful that you have done so - and this never happens without others being influenced to do the same, whether or not we ever see it ourselves.
DeleteAll the best!
Daniel (now a seminarian...)
Mrs. Tara,
ReplyDeleteI like your blog.
Thanks.
God be with you.
*
Religious people in front of a crowd looking happy - a dime a dozen...
ReplyDelete