The following is a letter from one of the pilgrims who went on a pilgrimage with BVM/Caritas last year to Medjugorje. Medjugorje is a place of profound graces and a powerful conversion experience for all those who respond to Our Lady’s invitation to come to this special village where the Mother of God continues Her Heavenly visitations daily since June 24, 1981. It is an experience that you will never regret and continue to reap the spiritual gifts received for the rest of your life. We ask that you prayerfully consider going on pilgrimage to Medjugorje this year, during this special time of grace God has granted through Our Lady Queen of Peace.
Dear Caritas, September 2009
The words “Thank you” seem so inadequate as far as conveying how very grateful I am to the Caritas of Birmingham team for planning constructing and executing such an awesome pilgrimage experience! From the very beginning, your BVM representative was communicative and knowledgeable as I was planning to go to Medjugorje, but so very unsure of which outfit to go with. She convinced me that Caritas was the way to go. And now that the pilgrimage is behind me, I know without a doubt that Caritas was the right choice!
Our Caritas leader throughout the pilgrimage, was wonderful – full of amazing information about Medjugorje and the visionaries. She also was a strong spiritual leader, guiding us each day in prayer and in prayerful activity. She has a love for Mary and Jesus that was contagious! I feel blessed by the fact that she was our leader! She kept the movement of our activities at a perfect pace, considering the heat and the terrain of the surrounding mountains.
During the seven days we spent in Medjugorje, we were blessed by being present at four apparitions! And one apparition was a Marija’s Chapel of Two Hearts. The Caritas group was invited to attend which was so unexpected and such an incredible blessing for our little group.
The English Mass each day at 10:00 a.m. was the highlight of each day. Mass became so deeply meaningful to me. We were blessed with amazing homilies and spiritual energy like nothing I have ever felt before!
I went on this pilgrimage seeking peace and transcendence. I was blessed with both. I developed new knowledge regarding my role as dad and husband within my family. I now realize how important my role is in establishing the Catholic faith in my children. I also now know the value of family prayer and am making changes to how I pray and how we pray as a family.
I also came to value prayer more each day, to use it to retain peace and to use it to continue evolving in my quest to become closer and closer to Jesus.
In closing, I will forever be grateful to Caritas for facilitating this amazing pilgrimage and for guiding us spiritually to a greater peace. Our Caritas guides, as well as the entire Caritas Community, will remain in my prayers in gratitude for what they did for me. I hope to take my family to Medjugorje very soon and Caritas will be the family I will choose to go with. God bless you all.
V.R.
Joppa, Maryland
If you have questions about a Medjugorje Pilgrimage, please visit this link.
November 2009 – BVM/Caritas pilgrims walking through the fields in Medjugorje on their way to Apparition Mountain. Walking through the fields is a very important part of one’s pilgrimage. It gives each pilgrim the opportunity of quiet reflection and prayer time, meditating on the special time of grace that has been given to the world.
BVM/Caritas November 2009 pilgrimage group continuing their walk up Apparition Mountain after stopping to pray at the spot where Our Lady appeared for the first time with Baby Jesus on June 24, 1981.
18 thoughts on “I Went on This Pilgrimage Seeking Peace and Transcendence”
I attended the 11/09 Pilgrimage with Caritas. I went to receive the Blessings from Our Lady and bring them home to my Family and others! My life has changed greatly!! Words cannot explain how grateful I am! I pray for the grace to use all I have been given to help lead others to God, especially those who do not know the Love of God.
My Dear Family at Caritas, Thank you for helping me fall in love with Our Lady, who has taught me how to truly love Her Son. My life will never be the same after my pilgrimage to Medjugorje with Caritas. You have helped change a life, snatching it out of satan’s grasp and leading it into the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I will be eternally grateful to all of you. Your yes to Our Lady has made a difference. You helped save my life. God bless you all.
My Dear Family at Caritas, Thank you for helping me fall in love with Our Lady, who has taught me how to truly love Her Son. My life will never be the same after my pilgrimage to Medjugorje with Caritas. You have helped change a life, snatching it out of satan’s grasp and leading it into the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I will be eternally grateful to all of you. Your yes to Our Lady has made a difference. You helped save my life. God bless you all.
Dear Caritas Community: The testimonies you publish are inspiring. I pray that those who have yet to receive God’s Love will do so, very soon. Blessings to you! +Robert Thomas
Dear Caritas Community: The testimonies you publish are inspiring. I pray that those who have yet to receive God’s Love will do so, very soon. Blessings to you! +Robert Thomas
I feel Our Lady’s call and I know I will be there. My Husband says no. That does not matter, because with God all things are possible. All I have to do is pray and have faith. I will leave the time in God’s care. Mary told me to tell my Husband to let me know when God tells Him I can go. I told Him Mary is calling me to go but I need His blessing. I have peace when I believe even when I can’t see. I wait with joy. Please say a prayer for me and my Husband.
I feel Our Lady’s call and I know I will be there. My Husband says no. That does not matter, because with God all things are possible. All I have to do is pray and have faith. I will leave the time in God’s care. Mary told me to tell my Husband to let me know when God tells Him I can go. I told Him Mary is calling me to go but I need His blessing. I have peace when I believe even when I can’t see. I wait with joy. Please say a prayer for me and my Husband.
I have been praying for some months to join a Caritas pilgrimage. Our Lady knows with all my heart I say YES to the invitation. I know when the perfect time comes I will be there.
My first pilgrimage with Caritas was last year. It was great to be able to walk through the vineyards, down the dirt roads, through the village listening to the Caritas guide tell of the apparitions that had happened in the places we were walking-so knowledgeable! This experience brought a depth of understanding of the profoundness of Medjugorje. I really felt they gave me the opportunity to live a true pilgrimage of the heart, rather than merely feeding superficial curiosity and consumerism.
My first pilgrimage to Medjugorje (and only one so far) was with Caritas, and it changed my life completely. They have a deep knowledge of the history of Medjugorje and have participated in and seen many Medjugorje “things” first hand. Their wisdom in understanding Our Lady’s messages and their constant, close attention to making the trip a truly spiritual pilgrimage is what made my experience life changing. No doubt my next trip will be with Caritas. Thank you..thank you..thank you Caritas!
Dear Caritas, Thank you for this beautiful reminder of my 3 pilgrimages with you to Medjugorje. The graces, growth, peace, and faith that has continued in my life since my first pilgrimage to Medjugorje have been on-going. Caritas’ pilgrimages are so spirit-filled, faith-building, and thought-provoking. My faith was lukewarm at best before going to Medjugorje, but through the leadership of the Caritas guides, I now fulling embraced my Catholic faith and will never take it for granted again.
Dear Caritas, Thank you for this beautiful reminder of my 3 pilgrimages with you to Medjugorje. The graces, growth, peace, and faith that has continued in my life since my first pilgrimage to Medjugorje have been on-going. Caritas’ pilgrimages are so spirit-filled, faith-building, and thought-provoking. My faith was lukewarm at best before going to Medjugorje, but through the leadership of the Caritas guides, I now fulling embraced my Catholic faith and will never take it for granted again.
I still feel the effects of my first pilgrimage to Medjugorje (which isn’t saying much considering I was there just last August). But I totally agree with the statement about walking through the fields. It is so quiet and peaceful walking amid the vineyards, and all the while, you have a clear view of the cross on Mt Krizevac. It truly is a time of peace and reflection.
I still feel the effects of my first pilgrimage to Medjugorje (which isn’t saying much considering I was there just last August). But I totally agree with the statement about walking through the fields. It is so quiet and peaceful walking amid the vineyards, and all the while, you have a clear view of the cross on Mt Krizevac. It truly is a time of peace and reflection.
Dear Caritas, My first pilgrimage to Medj was in June, 1989, also with Caritas. The pilgrimage transformed my life, brought me back to the Catholic faith, and steered me into a life fully surrendered to the Virgin Mary.A Friend of Medjugorje led my group. His enthusiasm, love for Our Lady and witness to give all to God greatly impacted me. I’ve been back to Medj. many times with Caritas. What they do, they do with the heart for Our Lady and it has produced lasting spiritual fruit in my life.
Dear Caritas, My first pilgrimage to Medj was in June, 1989, also with Caritas. The pilgrimage transformed my life, brought me back to the Catholic faith, and steered me into a life fully surrendered to the Virgin Mary.A Friend of Medjugorje led my group. His enthusiasm, love for Our Lady and witness to give all to God greatly impacted me. I’ve been back to Medj. many times with Caritas. What they do, they do with the heart for Our Lady and it has produced lasting spiritual fruit in my life.
I still remember my first pilgrimage to Medjugorje. It was with Caritas. It rained every day, it was freezing, but the spirit of the pilgrimage was so spiritual. It was not a tour but a real pilgrimage, and though I’ve been there now 9 times (all with Caritas), every time has it’s own form of growth. It’s hard to explain, it’s something that has to be experienced.
I still remember my first pilgrimage to Medjugorje. It was with Caritas. It rained every day, it was freezing, but the spirit of the pilgrimage was so spiritual. It was not a tour but a real pilgrimage, and though I’ve been there now 9 times (all with Caritas), every time has it’s own form of growth. It’s hard to explain, it’s something that has to be experienced.