Originally Released on June 25, 2015 A.D.
Bishops have been approving Medjugorje for 34 years. Hundreds of cardinals and bishops from around the world have made pilgrimages to Medjugorje and have not only been impressed, but have returned to their dioceses and have encouraged their people to go to Medjugorje. Medjugorje is too important and has captured the hearts of too many Catholics worldwide, for bishops to be indifferent to it. Bishop Franjo Komarica, a member of the Bishop’s Conference of Yugoslavia, who was part of the development of the Zadar Declaration, said the following in a homily given in Medjugorje on November 21, 1990:
BISHOP
FRANJO KOMARICA
BANJA LUKA BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BANJA LUKA BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
“All bishops should visit Medjugorje and personally witness what is happening there, so that they could then bring a decision that will be based not only on reading reports and hearing witnesses but on our own experience.”1
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, a very strong voice for Medjugorje, also speaks of the responsibility the bishops have towards Medjugorje. When in Lourdes in July 1998, he made the following statement:
CARDINAL CHRISTOPH SCHÖNBORN
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
“If, as Jesus said, we must judge the tree by its fruit, then I must say that the tree [of Medjugorje] is good…Indeed, it is the mission of the shepherds to promote what is growing, to encourage the fruits which are appearing, to protect them, if need be, from the dangers which are obviously everywhere…Medjugorje is not invulnerable, this is why it is and will be so important that bishops be very conscientious about their mission as shepherds for Medjugorje so that the obvious fruits that are there might be protected from any possible unfortunate errors.”2
What are the “obvious fruits” that Cardinal Christoph Schönborn speaks of? In another interview, in 1998, he stated:
CARDINAL CHRISTOPH SCHÖNBORN
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
“…Personally, I have not yet gone to Medjugorje; but in a way I have gone there through the people I know or those I have met, who, themselves, have gone to Medjugorje. And I see good fruits in their lives. I would be lying if I denied that these fruits exist. These fruits are tangible, evident. And in our diocese and in many other places, I observe graces of conversion, graces of a life of supernatural faith, of vocations, of healings, of a rediscovering of the sacraments, of confession. These are all things which do not mislead. This is the reason why I can only say that it is these fruits which enable me, as bishop, to pass a moral judgment. And if as Jesus said, we must judge the tree by its fruits, I am obliged to say that the tree is good.”3
Hundreds of bishops around the world have accepted the invitation to go to Medjugorje, which now includes Cardinal Schönborn who visited the village in December 2009. Their testimonies are presented here so that believers and non-believers alike can view the experiences of the shepherds of the Church, their observations and their prayerful discernment of what the meaning of Medjugorje is for them. These are personal testimonies of those who have journeyed to the village of Medjugorje physically, often with pilgrims from their dioceses where they have seen firsthand how impacting the Medjugorje experience is in the lives of the faithful, first while they are pilgrims in Medjugorje, and then after they return home, changed by their experience and desiring to live out their conversion by returning to, or more fully engaging in, the life of the Church. Many bishops expressed that they themselves were recipients of significant graces that impacted and changed their lives, renewed their priesthood, and led them into a closer relationship with Jesus and Our Lady. They were deeply moved by the whole experience of Medjugorje where they could see the renewal of the Church taking place right before their eyes.
Pope Saint John Paul II repeatedly encouraged the bishops who came to him about Medjugorje to go there, and to allow their faithful to go there as well. As Bishop Komarica stated above, bishops should visit Medjugorje to personally witness what is happening. Hundreds of bishops have in fact come to Medjugorje and their testimonies are very positive. Some came because they felt a responsiblity to their flock, to see what Medjugorje is all about. However, what they discovered was that Medjugorje was not only for their flock, but for themeslves as well. It is hard, if not impossible, to disregard or ignore the testimonies of so many cardinals and bishops, along with millions of lay Catholics who have experienced Medjugorje personally. What follows are the words of our shepherds. Is this not the Church speaking?
BISHOP
DOMENICO PECILE
LATINA, ITALY
LATINA, ITALY
“Because of my responsibility as a bishop of the Catholic Church, I have come personally to see if this event is real, if it is acceptable. From the very first time that I came to Medjugorje, my conviction is that these events are authentic. In Medjugorje, Our Lady is coming in a very powerful way, an outstanding way, different than Her other comings. It is impossible not to see here the Lord our God. Impossible! I come here to pray to Our Lady, to feel Her presence, not only because I feel the need for it, but because this is giving me a consolation on the road, a strength to continue, to walk with one additional reason, with the conviction that God truly loves us all.”4
BISHOP
KENNETH STEINER
PORTLAND,OREGON, USA
PORTLAND,OREGON, USA
“In Medjugorje I experienced a new spiritual motivation. I have discovered God again and for me that is the proof that Our Lady is here!”5
ARCHBISHOP GABRIEL GONSUM GANAKA
JOS, NIGERIA
JOS, NIGERIA
“Since the time my faithful are coming to Medjugorje, I too, as archbishop, feel the duty to come, to see what happens and to have a personal experience of this place of intense prayer. I still remember the strong impressions I had after my previous visits. Our Lady’s messages are simple, practical and life changing…
“Even though it is not always easy or possible, I would like my diocesan priests to come to Medjugorje because it is important for them to come, see and experience. I permit no one, myself included, to be prejudiced, because that means to judge without seeing. As an archbishop, I would like to invite all those who have not yet done so, to come to Medjugorje!”6
Whatever it was that brought them to Medjugorje, many bishops discovered it to be a place filled with graces for them personally. It was personal renewal that convinced them that Medjugorje is a gift from God. It is very common to hear amongst those who do not understand what Medjugorje has to offer comments such as: “You don’t have to go anywhere to receive graces; God is present to you at all times. You don’t have to go to Medjugorje; the source of grace is available in your own Church in your own hometown.” A Friend of Medjugorje, who has taken thousands of pilgrims to Medjugorje over the years, has a ready answer for such comments. He says:
We often hear from our pilgrims once we are in Medjugorje that, ‘You know, I’ve realized I didn’t have to come to Medjugorje to see Mary or receive graces, I have Jesus back home in the Tabernacle.’ Our response is ‘Yes, you did have to come. You had to come to learn that Jesus is in the Tabernacle back in your own home church and to receive the graces to understand that.'”
A Friend of Medjugorje went on to say:
“We had the Sacraments before Medjugorje began in 1981. We had the Church. Yet, with the Sacraments and the Church, people were falling away and neglecting them. Was there no more power in the Sacraments? In the Church? Nineteen eighty-one, when the apparitions began, marked a spiritual turning point in the world. …Through this event, the life that has always been in the Sacraments, but was lost because of our weak faith, again began to be found because our faith was increasing. At that point, June 24, 1981, in the world, faith was in crisis. Several of the first messages of Our Lady’s apparitions concerned faith. On June 27, 1981, Jakov asked what Our Lady expected of the Franciscans in Medjugorje. Our Lady said:
The next day, after asking the day before what was expected of the Franciscans, the visionaries asked what Our Lady expected of the people.”
June 28, 1981
Our Lady shows why there is a crisis of faith by saying:
January 21, 1982
The faith of returning pilgrims back to their own home parishes spoke loudly to bishops around the world. Many bishops, curious as to what had caused such impressive conversion in their parishioners, after accepting the invitation to go to Medjugorje, were surprised at the profound spiritual renewal they themselves received there.
The faith of returning pilgrims back to their own home parishes spoke loudly to bishops around the world. Many bishops, curious as to what had caused such impressive conversion in their parishioners, after accepting the invitation to go to Medjugorje, were surprised at the profound spiritual renewal they themselves received there.
BISHOP
JOSEPH MUGENYI SABITI
FORT PORTAL, UGANDA
FORT PORTAL, UGANDA
“I believe that the persons who lead the Church should come here and experience the graces and gifts of this place!”7
ARCHBISHOP
LOUIS KÉBREAU
CAP-HAÏTIEN, HAÏTI
CAP-HAÏTIEN, HAÏTI
“One cannot talk lightly about Medjugorje. It is a profound experience, intimate and personal! For me this is a time of renewal.”8
BISHOP
IRYNEY BILYK
BYZANTINE RITE BUCHACH, UKRAINE
BYZANTINE RITE BUCHACH, UKRAINE
“For my personal life, as a bishop and as a believer, Medjugorje is a power and a grace! Our Lady is present in a very special way here!”9
BISHOP
PATRICK POWER
CANBERRA-GOULBURN, AUSTRALIA
CANBERRA-GOULBURN, AUSTRALIA
“…This is the second time that I came to Medjugorje and it really is a time of great grace. Our Lady has prepared many graces also for me. I have found a profound peace, especially after I heard [visionary] Vicka’s testimony. I felt the same peace that I felt in 1993 when I heard about the messages the first time. This all helps me again to decide for my vocation as a priest and for my ministry as a bishop. Medjugorje is PEACE.”10
BISHOP
VICTOR MALDONADO BARRENO
GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR
GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR
“Medjugorje is a meeting place of God and man. Here there is found an authentic source of salvation… I have to admit that this visit here has opened my eyes to many things and that I will do a lot of things differently in all the tasks of my life. Here I have better understood the role of Mary in the life of a Christian!”11
ARCHBISHOP
FRANE FRANIĆ
SPLIT-MAKARSKA, CROATIA
SPLIT-MAKARSKA, CROATIA
“I personally learned how to pray at Medjugorje, with the Queen of Peace… I thank God that I was personally able to observe the development of this mystical theology and mystical phenomenon so closely. I recognize and accept the truth of Mary’s message at Medjugorje!”12
BISHOP
JESUS A. CABRERA
ALAMINOS, PHILIPPINES
ALAMINOS, PHILIPPINES
“I feel very much at home here in Medjugorje. It is as if Our Lady was telling me, ‘This is your home!”13
ARCHBISHOP
FABIO BETANCOURT TIRADO
MANIZALES, COLUMBIA
MANIZALES, COLUMBIA
“This is my first time here. I can feel the presence of God here. I feel the grace that God gives to His faithful through His Mother. The Blessed Virgin here is asking us to listen to the Lord who asks us, through His Mother, to turn away from sin and to become bearers of peace.”14
BISHOP
JOÃO EVANGELISTA MARTINS TERRA
BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL
BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL
“Both for me and the entire group, this pilgrimage has been miraculous for the way we have been able to pray so intensely without tiring…I have been quite a number of times to Fatima and Lourdes where the events have already concluded. Here, instead, the apparitions still happen and for this, one is able to perceive a special divine presence. It seems to me that the entire area lives for the Virgin; is that not so? The whole place lives for the Virgin…I think the work I did [in the Holy Lands] prepared me for this, so that I could be aware of the wonderful grace and blessing of the Virgin here.”15
BISHOP
SEBASTIAN THEKETHECHERIL
VIJAYAPURAM, INDIA
VIJAYAPURAM, INDIA
“…This is the most beautiful place because Our Blessed Mother appeared here. Why is She so beautiful? Because She was Full of Grace. And here, we can see the graces… Only when people are filled with the Holy Spirit, they can be happy on the outside also. I have also this experience. I was longing to come here for so many years now…and now [at] the last minute I got the visa, and I came here. I believe that this [was] a miracle in itself.”16
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Church Approval
O
n the subject of Church Approval, many bishops have spoken of their certainty that Medjugorje will be approved by the Church in the future. Their concern, therefore, is not in Church approval of the apparitions, but that Medjugorje will be ignored by many in the Church until the time the approval happens. Cardinal Hans Urs von Balthasar, who was regarded by many to be John Paul II’s favorite theologian stated:
“There is only one danger alone for Medjugorje—that people will pass it by!”17
Von Balthasar was convinced in the validity of Medjugorje.
CARDINAL
HANS URS VON BALTHASAR
LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
“The theology of Medjugorje rings true. I am convinced of its truth. Everything concerning Medjugorje is authentic from the Catholic point of view. All that happens there is so evident, so convincing!”17
This is an impressive statement coming from a theologian who is widely respected within the Church. As you read through the following statements of bishops, you will see that so many of them came to the same conclusion as Cardinal Von Balthasar. Believing in the apparitions, the important thing then becomes not so much the rubber stamp approval from the Vatican, but that people convert.
BISHOP
STANISLAS LUKUMWENA LUMBALA
KOLE, CONGO
KOLE, CONGO
“…One should not worry about approval all the time. The approval will certainly be given. Bishops come, and they come to pray. There is something that we are drawn to, something that has impressed us. Little by little, Medjugorje will be approved. Let each one live one’s own devotion. We are making way to set up a radio station in my Kole Diocese, which will allow us to let people know more about Medjugorje.”18
BISHOP
SÉAMUS HEGARTY
DERRY, IRELAND
DERRY, IRELAND
“By their fruits you shall know them.’ Here the fruits are so manifest, so clear and impressive, both in Medjugorje itself and among those who return home after a pilgrimage, that they simply cannot be ignored. Among many people from my own diocese that had been to Medjugorje I noticed the ongoing, positive results in relation both to their personal and family life. Thus I felt simply obliged to go to the place and find out for myself the source, the explanation, of this experience, this tremendous manifestation of faith, this high and exemplary Christian way of life. As regards to the Church—the official Church—it cannot afford to ignore this development…”19
CARDINAL
GIUSEPPE SIRI
DERRY, IRELAND
DERRY, IRELAND
“The facts are facts and nobody can deny them. The Church will give a judgment. I can only say that I see many atheists leaving Genoa for Medjugorje who return with a rosary in their hands.”20
ARCHBISHOP
PHILIP M. HANNAN
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA
“If supernatural isn’t the presence of a lot of people going to Confession, especially the youth, attending Mass, receiving Holy Communion, saying the Rosary—if that isn’t supernatural in essence I don’t know what is.”21
BISHOP
GEEVARGHESE MAR DIVANNASIOS OTTATHENGIL
BATHERY, INDIA
BATHERY, INDIA
“Medjugorje will be recognized, there is no doubt! Today or tomorrow, maybe a little later, it will surely be recognized!”22
BISHOP
HENRY JOSEPH KENNEDY
ARMIDALE, AUSTRALIA
ARMIDALE, AUSTRALIA
“…I have never been in doubt about Lourdes, and by the same token I am absolutely sure that the Gospa is present here. It will be nearly impossible to find another place on earth where such peace like here pervades!”23