What Happened on February 17, 2009
Our Lady smiled today. Our founder and Marija’s husband, Paolo, were out of town early yesterday morning before apparition time. It was a sacrifice to be gone from his home with Our Lady here still appearing. They were scheduled to be back Tuesday morning, but it would be impossible to make it back for the apparition. Their flight was scheduled to arrive in Birmingham at 10:15 a.m., and the apparition was expected at 10:40 a.m. It is normally a 55 minute drive from the airport to Caritas, but can be much longer if traffic is bad, and late morning the roads are usually filled with cars. Our founder had told his wife, in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, to pray for a long apparition, because it would have to be a “really” long apparition if he had even a slight chance of making it, especially since Our Lady said in yesterday’s apparition, “Same time. Same place.” Though we knew Our Lady could do anything, it was thought to be wishful thinking of any chance of getting back for Our Lady’s apparition today.
Rosary began in the Bedroom at 10:00 a.m. with mostly community members and some pilgrims present. As the time approached 10:40 a.m., Marija got up from kneeling just outside the doorway of the Bedroom and then entered into it. The Rosary continued, with different people praying each decade. It had almost reached ten minutes past apparition time (10:50 a.m.) when we began to notice that Marija gave no sign that apparition time was approaching.
At this point, some in the room began to wonder if Our Lady meant to wait until our founder arrived. Two full Rosary’s were prayed and Our Lady had not appeared! A third Rosary was started while we waited for Marija to go into ecstasy. Some of us began to take notice, began to wonder, questioning ourselves. The daughter of our founder decided to try and call Paolo to see where her dad was. When she reached him, our founder was shocked to find out that Our Lady had not yet appeared. It was 10:55 a.m. He was approx. 15 minutes from home. The 3rd Rosary, remarkably, continued up until the 4th Glorious mystery, when Marija began to pray the Hail Holy Queen. Suddenly Marija interiorly felt Our Lady was coming and that it was time for the apparition. Our hearts sunk because we knew it wasn’t enough time for our founder to make it back yet. Some of us were praying silently that Our Lady would wait, but as Marija began praying the 7,7,7, we knew that after one or two sets Our Lady would come as it was way past the normal time of the apparition, and after all, She had said the day before, “Same time. Same place.” Still we hoped for many sets to be prayed. Our hearts grew hopeful again when still after 3, 4, and 5 more sets, Our Lady hadn’t come. But then suddenly, Marija’s voice disappeared. Our Lady was present. One to two minutes went by and then in the silence of the apparition, everyone heard the kitchen screen door open and slam shut and unbelievably, our founder came running in. He was motioned to come forward. He stopped outside of the Bedroom to kneel down, but we motioned him to go into the Bedroom where an empty spot waited for him beside Marija. Our Lady was still appearing and continued to appear for the second half of the apparition. There were looks of unbelief, of joy, and tears to see that Our Lady waited for 30 minutes after Her normal apparition time which allowed our founder to be present. He was very moved, as we all were, to see this unexplainable action of Our Lady.
After the apparition had ended, we wanted to hear from our founder’s perspective what had been going on with him. He told us that in the car coming home, he and Paolo began the Rosary for apparition and in his prayer, he was asking Our Lady to wait for him. Headed toward noon time, Hwy 280 is normally packed with cars. When they had reached just beyond Interstate 459, looking ahead for more than a mile, he was surprised to see not one car on Hwy 280, one of the busiest and most congested highways in the state of Alabama. Traffic was busy in the oncoming lanes, but not their side of the highway. Where was everybody? Most of the traffic lights were green as they came to them. Later, as they neared an intersection that had turned red, the cars ahead went into side lanes, leaving the middle lane cleared of any cars. Even knowing that apparition time had already past, he decided to continue to hope that Our Lady would make it possible for him to make the apparition. Seeing few to no cars on the highway enkindled that hope. Then to receive the call from his daughter Bridget that the apparition hadn’t taken place yet, at 10:55 a.m., he knew it was too much to expect but he still hoped. To come home to find Marija in ecstasy as he entered the Bedroom was too much to take in. It was a lesson in the power of “hope” against hopelessness, when, even when there is no reason to hope, to keep hoping leads to the impossible happening.
Marija’s Description of the Apparition, February 17, 2009 in the Bedroom
In the moment of the apparition, I recommended all of us. In a special way I recommend Tony and Erin today on their (wedding) anniversary and I said and all families of the community. And Our Lady beginning to smile. And I (then) said (recommended) all families of all (present) and Our Lady beginning to pray, and She pray long (time) and I recommend all people who is in Field and I pray. Our Lady give blessing and She go.
The apparition took place at approximately 11:08 a.m. and lasted four minutes. Our founder came about 2 minutes before the apparition ended. Yet another surprise, when asked about apparition tomorrow, Our Lady said,
Pilgrims continued to hear about Our Lady’s presence and came throughout the week, while the community continued to celebrate special days of birthdays and anniversaries that happened to land in this special week with Our Lady. The parents of Victoria celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary, and the Bed was decorated as a little surprise for them. Not only special rosaries, medals, pictures are brought into the apparition when Our Lady comes to visit, but even wedding dresses and keepsakes from special celebrations are present in the apparition for Our Lady to bless. In future years, especially after the apparitions end and those who lived during this time have gone to their eternal reward, these blessed objects and keepsakes will be the most treasured items within the families—a holy heritage.
Our Lady is almost always punctual, especially when She says the day before, “Same time, same place.” Being present for years in Our Lady’s apparitions, one easily sees the pattern of Our Lady’s punctual coming. In fact, one Protestant psychotherapist who was interviewed by Fr. Slavko explained that Our Lady’s behavior was actually one of the reasons she came to believe in the apparitions. To read this interview, click here: https://www.medjugorje.com/medjugorje-today/christian-worldview/116-response-to-mej-feedback.html
How is it possible, then, that Our Lady came a full 30 minutes late for Her apparition when She stated the day before, that She would come the same time, at the same place? For us who were present that day in the apparition, there was no other explanation then She was responding to the prayers of our founder and the community. That is also something very characteristic that a mother would do.
February 18 would be the last apparition of Marija and Paolo’s visit. They would be leaving early in the morning. Because of this, our founder asked Our Lady, through Marija, if She would appear early in the morning so that the community could attend one more apparition before She leaves. Our Lady generously and unexpectedly replied: “I will come whenever you pray.” Outside of this particular visit with Our Lady, there was only one other time the community experienced Our Lady giving this particular and special grace. On August 9, 2003, when Marija’s family went for a week’s vacation to Florida with our founder, his family and the community. Our founder asked Our Lady on this day, through Marija, what time should we prepare for the apparitions each day. Our Lady responded: “Because it is your vacation, I will come whenever you pray.” Everyone was stunned by this message. Being given the ability to have the apparition at their choosing made for a beautiful week in which each apparition was prepared for in a special way so that our hearts were fully prepared to receive Our Lady each time. Even Marija was surprised at this unexpected gift of Our Lady.
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5 thoughts on “Caritas Silver Jubilee: What Happened on February 17, 2009”
Concerning discernment, we have been told; “One who does not go to confession cannot have a well formed conscience. And, “Without a well formed conscience one cannot have common sense.” And Our Lady has said, “Confession will be a remedy for the West.” One of the answers has already clearly been given to us but we our blind and cannot see, we are deaf end cannot hear. In 1969-70 I was in VietNam for 14 months fighting with a sovereign nation against communism. Even then I realized that if this evil was not defeated or at least kept at bay we would one day be fighting it inside our own country. That day had already taken place as I eventually realized that the red dragon was deeply entrenched in our society and our government. My company was Alpha co.,1stbn.,101st Airborne Division. Our company’s motto was “Currahee” which means “We stand alone”. Our Division’s symbol is the Screaming Eagle. I implore all of Our Lady,s followers to prepare, pray, fast and be ready to “Stand Alone”.
Concerning discernment, we have been told; “One who does not go to confession cannot have a well formed conscience. And, “Without a well formed conscience one cannot have common sense.” And Our Lady has said, “Confession will be a remedy for the West.” One of the answers has already clearly been given to us but we our blind and cannot see, we are deaf end cannot hear. In 1969-70 I was in VietNam for 14 months fighting with a sovereign nation against communism. Even then I realized that if this evil was not defeated or at least kept at bay we would one day be fighting it inside our own country. That day had already taken place as I eventually realized that the red dragon was deeply entrenched in our society and our government. My company was Alpha co.,1stbn.,101st Airborne Division. Our company’s motto was “Currahee” which means “We stand alone”. Our Division’s symbol is the Screaming Eagle. I implore all of Our Lady,s followers to prepare, pray, fast and be ready to “Stand Alone”.
My mother,Virginia Mary, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y. in 1928 in a poor Irish family. Life was not easy for large Catholic families in N.Y. My grandmother, Estelle Veronica, held to her faith in God. My mother taught her children ” never follow the crowd, do not let the world lead you around by the nose.”.That holy wisdom lead me to avoid the wrong crowds, dress modestly, turn off the TV in 1985, and to homeschool our children -like so many other wise parents who did not want their children tainted by the culture. We now have grandchildren who will be homeschooled because their parents see the situation more clearly than we did 30 years ago. My grandmother and mother lived the message before Medjugorje – they were simple, humble, faithful women of prayer. There are many like them who are silently raising an army for heaven, the likes of which the world has not seen. “Do not believe lying voices.” — “Do not follow the crowd etc.” Thank you so much for your encouragement!
Covfefe: Aramaic for, ” I WILL STAND UP “.
Amen! Praying to completely surrender my heart, life and will to Our Lady and Our Lord. Big Q! Tiny q! We stand! Rosaries in hand!!!