The following pictures and captions are what is behind and drives Medjugorje.com. It is a living body of believers, transforming Our Lady’s messages into life. Those who visit Caritas repeatedly are always asking us to show behind the scenes, and so the following is Easter Sunday spent together.
Easter Sunday Morning – a few of the Community members putting the final decoration touches on the tables where the Community will come together for their Easter celebration meal. Our Lady has taught through Her messages, everything that we do, we should do with love. From the decorations to the preparation and cooking of the meal to the cleaning up afterwards, all is done with love, in peace and gratitude for the way of life Our Lady has given to us.
Our Lady says the greatest treasure you can have is peace. To be able, while growing up, to sleep in peace with the sound of the Rosary being prayed by adults daily in the Field of Apparitions for apparition time in Medjugorje cannot help but influence little ones being raised in such an environment. Here are two cousins, whose families live in the community.
A Caritas tradition. Our Lady tells us to put “Her messages into practice.”
March 25, 1992
Everything we live threads the way of the messages into our life. Even our traditions always encompass a spiritual element, even an Easter Egg hunt in which the adults give witness to the children while helping them to hunt. After Rosary in the Field, all the Community children line up from youngest to the oldest to begin an Easter Egg hunt. The younger children pick an adult or older youth to help them. Then a group at a time, according to age, run up the hill to begin the Easter Egg Hunt which encompasses all around the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages, Our Lady of Victory School, the barn, gift shop area and parking area. For the next hour or so, it is a whirlwind of kids and adults running, laughing, screaming, and helping each other in their quest for eggs.
Our Easter meal consists of a recipe that some of the local Medjugorje villagers taught the founder of Caritas several years ago. It is a chicken dish, cooked in special pans from Medjugorje called satches. The medal satches are placed on a stand, high enough to put burning coals under the pans. Then the top is placed on the lid (satch) and hot coals are placed on top. The coals are continuously replaced by hot ones as they cool off. With temperatures in the high 80’s on Easter, it was a true labor of love by the men of the community as they continuously were shoveling the hot coals on top and under the satch. The fruits we receive from living Our Lady’s messages are a part of our every day life, even the way we cook.
After the hunt is over and the meal is cooked, the community kneels down to offer thanksgiving together for the bountiful food that God has given to them and, in a special way, to give thanks to Jesus for winning for us salvation through His Death and Resurrection. Good Friday, the community climbed the mountain, Grotto La Pluie, barefoot, in gratitude for Jesus gift of His life to us and the gift of His Mother who guides us each day.
Community meals are a great joy for both the young and the old. The food, always made with love, makes meals together very enjoyable for adults and children. The community spent six hours at the table, sharing, laughing, serious conversation, enjoying each others company. This is part of the life Our Lady taught. Too many today are ready to leave family gatherings after a couple of hours, so distant has the family become. Our Lady said on May 1, 1986:
Community helps strengthen family and peace. Family and peace helps build community. This is something that has been lost in the culture and Our Lady’s desire to establish communities in the future.
Children play hard and sleep hard. Here in the protected niche behind the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages front doors, a little one rests in peace. The messages, etched in the 2 blocks in the side of the middle window, are always around wherever we go, wherever we look. The culturalizing of Our Lady’s messages is in our very life.
22 thoughts on “Easter With the Community of Caritas”
i love the simple lure of the horse,the dedicated work from the rooster,and the beauty God provide’s.how wonderful the atmosphere of the Chruch to sustaine the animals,they are comfortable,to say the least. this is the beauty of the region,one of them,so nice.well i must go back to work,a pleaseant break for me to view this,”Amen”.
Gods blessing will help us triumph over the devil with the help of our Mother…thank you
Hello, Caritas Team: Triumph, Immaculate Heart of Mary. Peace of Jesus be with you and continue to Bless and Protect your work. This is a beautiful account. My two children, survivors of the Gulf War conflict are now young adults and struggling with their American identity in a very confused and war-ridden world, again. Today, Liberty Counsel of Florida is holding their Awakening event. I couldn’t go. This lovely article really says it. America needs God and Peace!
Hello, Caritas Team: Triumph, Immaculate Heart of Mary. Peace of Jesus be with you and continue to Bless and Protect your work. This is a beautiful account. My two children, survivors of the Gulf War conflict are now young adults and struggling with their American identity in a very confused and war-ridden world, again. Today, Liberty Counsel of Florida is holding their Awakening event. I couldn’t go. This lovely article really says it. America needs God and Peace!
Hello, Caritas Team: Triumph, Immaculate Heart of Mary. Peace of Jesus be with you and continue to Bless and Protect your work. This is a beautiful account. My two children, survivors of the Gulf War conflict are now young adults and struggling with their American identity in a very confused and war-ridden world, again. Today, Liberty Counsel of Florida is holding their Awakening event. I couldn’t go. This lovely article really says it. America needs God and Peace!
Just wanted to say that my husband and I really enjoyed reading about Easter there and looking at the photos that you shared with us. Beautiful. The one time that we were there 4 years ago, really made an impression on us.
Such Joy and Love showing on everyone’s face. We have many family gatherings and it is a Joy to see that Our Lady Blessed Mother is pouring her Grace and desire into our hearts and families. Thank You for always sharing your lives and community with the world.
Such Joy and Love showing on everyone’s face. We have many family gatherings and it is a Joy to see that Our Lady Blessed Mother is pouring her Grace and desire into our hearts and families. Thank You for always sharing your lives and community with the world.
This pictures of the Community are the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth! I beg you to share more moments with us. Thanks
How my heart yearns for Caritas and Medjugorje. Thank you so much for your life and sacrafices. Please pray for my family, my intentions and my healing so I may yet go back to Medjugorje. God Bless, Susan
Enjoyed the cousins picture the most! Can’t wait to visit/work again. Peace to all, gh
Enjoyed the cousins picture the most! Can’t wait to visit/work again. Peace to all, gh
Thank you for the beautiful photos and comments of Easter Sunday celebrations at Caritas. In the past year your example has influenced us in a beautiful way, encouraging us to simplify our lives and to live more for Jesus each day. May God through the intercession of our Blessed Mother bless you a hundredfold for all that you do and bring you His peace.We visted last July and loved every minute. With God’s grace we will return this year.
Thank you for the beautiful photos and comments of Easter Sunday celebrations at Caritas. In the past year your example has influenced us in a beautiful way, encouraging us to simplify our lives and to live more for Jesus each day. May God through the intercession of our Blessed Mother bless you a hundredfold for all that you do and bring you His peace.We visted last July and loved every minute. With God’s grace we will return this year.
This is what I wanted to see. To feel so far from the goal and then see your life…maybe I am closer than I thought. How can I live your way, in my Urban setting, with children nearly grown….it may seem too late but it is never to late to begin again. Pray that we can culturlize(sp) your way into our urban setting. Love Julia
For me – when I see pictures of the community, living Our Lady’s Messages really comes alive. As I sit and stare at all of these pictures I feel transfixed by observing such joy and happiness. I’m so happy for all of you to have such incredible moments like this. You all deserve such divine graces. Thank you so much for this peak into such a Holy Day and how you spent it. MUCH LOVE.
For me – when I see pictures of the community, living Our Lady’s Messages really comes alive. As I sit and stare at all of these pictures I feel transfixed by observing such joy and happiness. I’m so happy for all of you to have such incredible moments like this. You all deserve such divine graces. Thank you so much for this peak into such a Holy Day and how you spent it. MUCH LOVE.
Thank you Caritas, I’ve been to your community many times and like others a piece of my heart is always there. Thank you for sharing your Easter with us. God Bless, Kathy Lee
Thank you Caritas, I’ve been to your community many times and like others a piece of my heart is always there. Thank you for sharing your Easter with us. God Bless, Kathy Lee
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing and being such a wonderful example for us to follow in living Our Lady’s messages. Happy Easter and God bless, Mychelle
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing and being such a wonderful example for us to follow in living Our Lady’s messages. Happy Easter and God bless, Mychelle