December 11, 2011 A.D.
What Happened on December 11, 1999
The fourth day of the five days of prayer was a special Christmas celebration, and the day that everyone looked forward to with so much anticipation. The Field was surrounded by luminaries. There were three bonfires on the edge of the circle of the Field. And right by Our Lady’s statue was a beautiful lit up Nativity. Our Lady had told Marija She would be appearing right in the middle of this special event. Every pilgrim was asked to bring a flower to present before the crib of Jesus to show their love and commitment to Him. This request was based in a message Our Lady had given in Medjugorje, a message that we live in the community each year the night of December 11:
December 20, 1984
Twelve thousand people came that night carrying their flowers and their hearts in their hands to Our Lady. The following is Marija’s explanation of Our Lady’s apparition that night in the Field:
“At the moment when Our Lady arrived tonight, She looked at each and everyone of us. She remained in silence and I understood that I was being permitted to be able to recommend all of us. As I began to recommend everyone and all the intentions that we have in our hearts, Our Lady remained in silence. Then I began to recommend all of the sick that are here. And Our Lady remained in silence and watched all of us still! I kept looking at Our Lady and I smiled and said, ‘Well, I recommend all the little ones and the big ones.’ And Our Lady gave me a big smile in return. Then Our Lady began to pray over us. After She prayed over us, I felt in my heart that maybe Our Lady wanted to say something to us. And so I said, ‘Well, do you have something to tell us?’ And Our Lady said:”
“But the thing that I wanted to leave as a surprise for the end was that Our Lady wasn’t alone. She came with three angels. Our Lady gave us a surprise even though it wasn’t Christmas. She celebrated with us by bringing angels.”
On December 10, the house of our founder was opened for those who desired to visit and pray in the Bedroom of the Apparitions. With the crowds as large as they were, individuals were only allowed a few minutes in the Bedroom, but even in that short time many people left in tears having experienced Our Lady’s powerful presence within their hearts.
Three long lines of pilgrims stretched across the Field as the people waited in turn to place their flowers at the feet of Baby Jesus for Christmas in the Field, December 11, 1999. Though the crowds had been growing, we were amazed to see the numbers flooding into the Field the evening of December 11. Our Lady has often expressed Her joy in Medjugorje when large numbers of people would be present on the mountain for Her apparitions. She many times has said, “Thank you for coming in such large numbers.” With more than 12,000 pilgrims in the Field this night, it no doubt was part of the reason for Our Lady’s happiness in the apparition.
Our Lady’s joy on this night of December 11, 1999, was representative of what filled the hearts of the thousands of people who had come to be present for this apparition. The joy and excitement among those gathered was tangibly felt. The anticipation of what Our Lady would do and say was also greatly looked forward to. But no one expected Our Lady to be so moved as to say, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart” or that She would come accompanied by angels.
It was worth 10 years of waiting for Our Lady to return to have the experience of such a beautiful and holy night, a Christmas like no other Christmas we have ever experienced, that will be remembered by all those who were present “in the stable” the night of December 11, 1999.
December 14, 1992
“… Pray, dear children, especially during this time, and amongst your prayers prepare yourselves for the great day that is coming, that this Christmas will be different from the other Christmases, that it will be joyous, dear children. Remember, dear children, how we were happy in the stable when my Son was born! May your family be happy and all those present in the stable.”
See more of the apparitions of December 1999 below:
December 8, 1999 – December 9, 1999 – December 10, 1999 – December 11, 1999 – December 12, 1999 – December 13, 1999
