Medjugorje Visionaries

“I invite you. I need you. I chose you. You are important.”

Our Lady to the six visionaries, June 1981

“It was June 24, 1981, the Feast of John the Baptist, the proclaimer of the coming Messiah. In the evening the Virgin Mary appeared to two young people, Mirjana Dragicevic * and Ivanka Ivankovic.* The next day, four more young people, Marija Pavlovic,* Jakov Colo, Vicka Ivankovic,* and Ivan Dragicevic saw the Virgin Mary, bringing the total to six Medjugorje visionaries. These visionaries are not related to one another. Three of the six visionaries no longer see Our Lady on a daily basis. As of July, 2009, the Virgin is still appearing everyday to the remaining three visionaries; that’s well over 12,820 apparitions.” ¹

Our Lady specifically chose these six youth, whose ages ranged from ten-year-old Jakov to seventeen-year-old Vicka when Our Lady first appeared.

The visionaries of Medjugorje carry a magnificent burden. They have been blessed with visions from God, yet these visions show them a painful future for the world. No one asked these young people if they wanted these apparitions, but they accepted them, and with them came responsibility and suffering. Many people, including the visionaries themselves, have wondered why Our Lady chose them particularly for these apparitions. The visionaries asked Our Lady about this on one occasion. Ivanka relayed Our Lady’s response, “She said it’s not always necessary to look for the best.” ² Other visionaries have said that it was simply God’s will, or that God allowed Our Lady to choose whom She wanted, and She chose these six.

Another amazing aspect related to these six visionaries is their names. The names Marija and Mirjana both mean “Mary,” which is the Blessed Mother’s name. Ivanka and Ivan mean “John.” Our Lady first appeared on June 24, 1981, which is the feast of John the Baptist. His message was one of repentance and a declaration that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah. Vicka’s name means “life.” Our Lady has revealed to Vicka Her life story, which Vicka is to make public when Our Lady tells her to do so. Finally, Jakov’s name means “James.” The parish church in Medjugorje is St. James parish. Clearly this is no coincidence, but rather something ordained by God.

Our Lady also revealed Herself to a young girl named Jelena Vasilj *, who is not part of the group of the original six visionaries, but Jelena “sees” Our Lady in a different manner than the visionaries. The messages Jelena received differ from those the visionaries receive, but they are nonetheless an important part of Our Lady’s coming in Medjugorje.

Click on the individual buttons below to learn more about each visionary’s individual relationship with Our Lady and their particular role in Her plans from Medjugorje.