An Unexpected Surprise: Our Lady Blesses Early Arrivals

As pilgrims began arriving at Caritas this morning, Tuesday, June 30, 2009, and continued to arrive the rest of the day they were told that Our Lady would be appearing tonight in the Bedroom at 6:40 p.m. and they were invited to gather in the Field at 6:00 p.m. to pray the Rosary. The Medjugorje visionary Marija would recommend everyone in the Field during the apparition this evening. It was an unexpected surprise as the event does not begin until tomorrow, Wednesday, July 1. It was a beautiful sunny day. Many pilgrims arrived a day or two early to help the Caritas community in the final preparations for the week’s events. Some pilgrims were delighted to bump into Marija as she came to see all the activity herself, and who even joined in helping complete a few uncompleted projects. Many people had already gathered in the Field before 6:00 p.m., while other pilgrims who were just arriving were being immediately informed so they could arrive in the Field before the time of the apparition. Meanwhile, the Caritas Community was also gathering together in the Bedroom. The Rosary began at 6:00 p.m. Fifteen to twenty pilgrims also attended tonight’s apparition in the Bedroom. When they arrived, several had stunned looks on their faces, others had eyes filled with tears, still others came in very reverently taking their place beside the Bed on their knees. There were families with children, and then also those who had come alone. Marija, who had been kneeling in the adjacent room, came into the Bedroom just at 6:40 p.m. and began to pray in Croatian the 7,7,7 but was interrupted in her prayer when Our Lady appeared. The apparition lasted 3 min. 15 seconds. Marija’s description follows:

“In the moment of apparition when Our Lady come I recommend all us, all people who is in Field, and I recommend in special way…..(Marija stated different people whom she recommended to Our Lady in prayer). And after I said I recommend all people who is coming. And I see Our Lady stay more, so I beginning to recommend more people, some people that I said I specially pray these days. And Our Lady after little time, when I’m beginning to pray for other people, She begin to pray, like cut (Marija begins to laugh), like I no stop, She no stop. And after She smile, She pray over us and She blessed us all. And She blessed all people in the Field and objects for blessing. And then She said, “Tomorrow, same time, same place.”

Marija was asked to repeat, that Our Lady smiled at the end? Marija said “yes.” Marija was then asked what Our Lady’s disposition was tonight when She arrived. Marija responded, “Like always. There come light and after Our Lady come.” To the question, was Our Lady tranquil, Marija again responded “yes” and continued by saying that “She no give some special message. But I think most beautiful gift is Our Lady’s presence.”
 

Community children were joined today, Tuesday, June 30, 2009, in the Field with children of families who have come to attend the Five Days of Prayer. Though Our Lady would be appearing later this evening, the Caritas community still honors apparition time in Medjugorje, which is 11:40 a.m. Alabama time, or CST. The younger children play while the adults pray, but for these five minutes during apparition time, even the younger children are taught to stop their playing and be on their knees to honor Our Lady’s apparition in Medjugorje. As they grow into older youth, they naturally imitate the adults and join them in prayer—all the while taking delight in watching the younger children playing around them, no doubt remembering fondly when they were their age doing the same things.

A couple of community members from Caritas, after being in the apparition, went to the Field to relay what took place in the apparition this evening, June 30, 2009. They informed the small crowd of pilgrims who gathered underneath the limbs of the pine tree that Our Lady would be appearing the next day on July 1st at 6:40 p.m. once again. Most had not expected when they drove out to Caritas this evening that Our Lady would be appearing. It was a great gift to so unexpectedly receive Her blessing before the days of prayer begin. Many of the pilgrims the community met today are recent believers in Our Lady’s apparitions in Medjugorje. This is their first visit to Caritas, learning of the apparitions through Medjugorje.com or the billboards.

Medjugorje visionary Marija in today’s apparition in the Bedroom, Tuesday, June 30, 2009. Marija said that Our Lady lingered today and so Marija took advantage by praying for more and more people until finally Our Lady “cut in”, with a smile, and after blessing everyone in the Bedroom and Field, along with their religious articles, She ended the apparition saying “Same time, same place” for tomorrow’s apparition.

Schedule for Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Day of Repentence

A day of reflection to lead us towards repentance, humiliation and forgiveness. We will ask Our Lady in the apparition this day, for a profound spirit of repentance, humility, forgiveness and revival to enter our hearts.

5:00-6:00 a.m. Silent Morning Prayer
6:30 a.m. Mass at St. Mark’s Church
9:00 a.m. Prayers and Announcements
10:45 a.m. Rosary in the Field/Two Decades of the Rosary are Prayed
2:30 a.m. A Friend of Medjugorje Will Greet & Welcome the Pilgrims & will Speak on the Importance of these Five Days of Prayer for our Nation
6:00 p.m. Rosary in the Field to Prepare for Our Lady’s Apparition
6:40 p.m. Time of Our Lady’s Apparition
Immediately following will be the announcement for the following day’s apparition

*The Caritas Community will gather after dinner in the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages to pray a Rosary for all those who have given to the Retooling of Our Lady’s Tabernacle. All pilgrims are invited to stay and pray this Rosary with us.