Medjugorje, the place where Heaven touches the earth, is a phenomenon that leaves an astonishing mark on the Catholic world today. It is about a small village located in the Hercegovina region, in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The population living here is Croatian Catholics.
It all started on the 24th of June 1981, at about 6pm, when an ordinary village parish become a pilgrimage site after an apparition of Our Lady (cro. Gospa). With deep conviction six young parishioners, Ivanka Ivanković, Mirjana Dragićević, Ivan Dragićević, Ivan Ivanković, Milka Pavlović and Vicka Ivanković declared that they saw Our Lady with the child Jesus on the Hill of Apparitions, Mount Podbrdo (also was called Crnica). Shocked and scared, they did not approach even they immediately thought it is Our Lady.
The following day, on June 25th, children felt strongly drawn towards the place where, the day before, they saw the One who they had recognised as Our Lady. Ivan Ivanković and Milka Pavlović no longer saw Our Lady and two new children, Jakov Čolo and Marija Pavlović, did see Her. The group of Medjugorje visionaries was formed. From that day onward, they had daily apparitions, together or separately. Presently, Marija, Ivan i Vicka still meet with Our Lady on a daily basis. To Ivanka, Mirjana and Jakov continues to appear once a year. They prayed with Our Lady and talked to Her for the first time on June 25th. That’s why this day was taken as the anniversary day.
On the third day, on June 26th, after appearing to all of the children together on the Apparition Hill, Our Lady again appeared to Marija Pavlović. She stood in front of a large Cross, and pointing to it with Her hands, sadly repeated:
“PEACE, PEACE PEACE – AND ONLY PEACE!
PEACE MUST BEGIN TO REIGN BETWEEN GOD AND MAN AND BETWEEN MEN”.
