Our Lady Prays for Those Who Have Fallen Away-Ivan’s Apparition

Ivan’s prayer group met at the top of Apparition Mountain (Podbrdo) tonight Friday August 17,2007. At 7:30 pm there were already hundreds of pilgrims gathered around the statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje, as the sun began to gently drop behind the mountains to the west.

The ripe figs being given away by some of the locals and the many hanging ripe on the trees were a welcome sight this evening. Today was a typical hot, dry, sunny day here in Medjugorje. Sunset was appreciated as the temperature gradually began to cool.
 

Groups of pilgrims continued to arrive and the Rosary was begun in Italian with those present praying along in their native languages. Early on a few members of the prayer group arrived and between decades of the Rosary they played guitar and led the singing. With darkness came Ivan and the rest of the prayer group and more singing. A sliver of the moon appeared to the left of the cross on Mt. Krizevac and gradually slipped out of sight on the backside. After the music, came the praying of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary in Croatian. In the silence, after the Rosary, Our Lady appeared to Ivan. It was very quiet and prayerful. After the apparition, the hundreds of pilgrims carefully descended both pathways down Apparition Mountain, and lights could be seen for about an hour. Many pilgrims chose to walk back to their pansions through the vineyards in total darkness. If they shone their flashlights, they would see numerous grapevines sagging with ripe fruit. It was another day in this Holy village.

Below is Ivan’s description of the apparition:
 

Most important from the meeting tonight with Our Lady is that Our Lady came joyful and happy. She greeted us at the beginning with Her usual Motherly greeting, “Praised be Jesus my dear children.” Our Lady then prayed for a long time with Her hands extended over us present. She then prayed especially over those sick present here and then blessed us all with Her Motherly Blessing. She also blessed all the religious articles brought for blessing, and Ivan recommended all your needs, petitions, your families, and especially the sick present. Our Lady then said,
 

“Dear children, also today the Mother, in a special way, calls you to pray at this time for all my children who have distanced themselves from my Son. Dear children, pray that they may return and may find peace, joy, and love. The Mother prays with you. Thank you, dear children, for having responded to my call.”

After, we prayed with Our Lady an Our Father and a Glory Be and then Our Lady left in prayer, in an illuminated Sign of the Cross saying, “Go in peace my dear children.”