Published May 5, 2020 A.D.
Today is the second release of a new Medjugorje book. This is the first time this story is told. Each day, there will be a new chapter released. Each chapter is about a 20 minute read. Spread this to all your friends and family, to your prayer group members, mail lists and all your social media.
· Chapter 1: Turn Back the Clock…
· Chapter 2: Extinguish the Flames
· Chapter 3: Missing the Messages
· Chapter 4: March 18… Trust the Plan
· Epilogue, by a Friend of Medjugorje
Chapter 2: Extinguish the Flames
There in the Bedroom in the early morning hours of February 2, 1997, none of us could imagine that a great storm was brewing to viciously attack a Friend of Medjugorje and the Caritas mission. Not everyone was pleased with this spontaneous prayer vigil gathering. In fact, the storm was about to boil over before there was any warning signs given of an impending storm. But before we continue on into this chapter which will lay out what happened next, it is important to establish a few facts.
1. A Friend of Medjugorje never wrote or insinuated that anyone was required to get up and pray in the middle of the night.
2. A Friend of Medjugorje never wrote or insinuated that Our Lady or Mirjana had made a direct request for people to get up in the middle of the night to pray.
3. A Friend of Medjugorje never wrote or insinuated that Our Lady was going to be releasing a secret.
4. A Friend of Medjugorje made it perfectly clear that the prayer gathering was for one purpose only: to pray in union with Our Lady for nonbelievers and in gratitude for Our Lady allowing us to join Her at this time while She is appearing to Mirjana.
5. Among those associated with Caritas’ mission, there was no confusion, no fear and no agitation among the many thousands who were phoning and writing in. Only enthusiasm and gratitude for having been contacted in time to be able to participate.
6. There were many Medjugorje centers and followers of Our Lady around the world who were spreading the news about Mirjana’s February 2, 1997 apparition. It was big news in the Medjugorje world and there was very little time to spread the news before the day would arrive. Knowing this, a Friend of Medjugorje had to react quickly to the news. Having had the grace of interviewing Mirjana ten months earlier, learning of the secret prayer Our Lady taught her, having written about it in a newsletter and a prayer to help break open the news to the world, reading hundreds of enthusiastic letters from his writing over several months, and then seeing Our Lady suddenly make a change fueled his desire to ACT. He was in a totally different posture than most of those around the world—his was a posture of anticipation, and he didn’t want to fail Our Lady in rallying the troops when She led him to send out a call through the voice Our Lady gave him. This, perhaps, explains a little of how his own reaction differed so much from others who were responsible for informing Our Lady’s followers of any changes in the apparitions. In regard to February 2, 1997, following Our Lady’s messages and inspirations, he had built the infrastructure to rapidly react, striking quickly, to respond to Our Lady’s call even before others understood what Our Lady was revealing. Our Lady has used him to define many things concerning Medjugorje, its purpose now, and in the future. He knew more and so was more responsible.
A Friend of Medjugorje says that Our Lady always sees what we give to Her and Our Lady responds beyond what we deserve or can even imagine. His very history with Our Lady shows this, as was shown in the previous chapter. He has maintained, from the beginning of his involvement with Our Lady’s apparitions, that whatever Our Lady shows him to do or say, he will make every effort to get the information to the masses. This has cost him a lot of persecution. It is important at this point to remember Our Lady’s words:
July 25, 1999
God does many things worth rejoicing over. But there was no way that satan would allow people all over the world to be making the sacrifice of getting up in the middle of the night in order to pray with Our Lady for nonbelievers. There was too much at stake for him to lose. In this case, satan did exactly what he normally does: he sowed division and confusion.
A Friend of Medjugorje made plans to be in Medjugorje for Mirjana’s February 2 apparition, but felt a strong pull to spend several days in Rome beforehand, in prayer and fasting. Spending most of his time in St. Peter’s Basilica, through a series of small miracles, a letter from a Friend of Medjugorje found its way into the hands of Pope John Paul II’s secretary, Fr. Stanisław Dziwisz, and he was invited to attend the Pope’s private Mass the morning of January 30. A Friend of Medjugorje was asked by the Pope’s secretary to do both the reading and the responsorial psalm at the Mass, where he stood less than five feet in front of the Holy Father. After the Mass, a Friend of Medjugorje spent some time with Pope John Paul II. The secretary introduced him as the founder of a mission from Alabama that is spreading the messages of Medjugorje. This immediately got the Pope’s attention and as the secretary continued to explain about the work of his mission, his family and the community, the Pope began giving blessings upon him—one for himself, a second for his family and a third for the community—three blessings. John Paul then accepted a copy of a Friend of Medjugorje’s book, Words from Heaven, the Messages of Our Lady of Medjugorje.
A Friend of Medjugorje and Pope John Paul II, January 30, 1997.
Pope John Paul II, was known to have been a believer in Medjugorje. A Friend of Medjugorje gave Pope John Paul a copy of Words from Heaven, and the Pope then questioned him about Medjugorje and his work. The Pope expressed to a Friend of Medjugorje about his interest in the “Bible Belt” of the United States, and that he has it in his heart to visit a Marian Shrine and the South. He was very well disposed to a Friend of Medjugorje. The Holy Father told him, “I give you a blessing,” making the Sign of the Cross on his forehead. Then he placed his hands on a Friend of Medjugorje’s head and gave a blessing, saying, “This is for your family.” When they finished, the Holy Father began to leave, then he stopped and turned around and said he wanted to give a blessing on the Community. A Friend of Medjugorje dropped to his knees and the Holy Father spread his arms out over a Friend of Medjugorje and imparted a prayer and a blessing over the Caritas Community.
This unexpected meeting with the Holy Father set afire the heart of a Friend of Medjugorje and he was filled with anticipation in arriving in Medjugorje the following day, January 31, 1997. That afternoon he went to see Mirjana. He told her of the notice Caritas had sent out calling for people to join Our Lady in prayer on February 2, and how great the enthusiasm was from people around the world in responding to that call. Mirjana was happy to see a Friend of Medjugorje and invited him to come to the apparition, telling him to arrive an hour early. He spent the next day in prayer, thinking only of being with Our Lady in the apparition the next morning and being able to present to Her, in person, all those who would be gathered around the world in prayer during that time, oblivious to the fact that satan was setting up a firestorm of hatred against him that would manifest before Our Lady’s apparition.
Medjugorje is seven hours ahead of Alabama time. Towards the end of the day of February 1, at Caritas in Alabama, it was learned that a deviously written fax was sent to all the Medjugorje centers attacking a Friend of Medjugorje, not by name, but by description. There was no doubt who was being referred to in the fax that was filled with falsehoods and misleading statements. A religious living in Medjugorje had gone to Mirjana and had expressed to her that a Friend of Medjugorje had caused great confusion, panic and fear among people, among other false allegations. Confusion? Panic? Fear? This was not at all the experience of the community members who had been manning the phones and opening the mail over the past several weeks after the announcement had been made. Mirjana was told that a Friend of Medjugorje was spreading fear about the secrets. Yet, reviewing what he wrote, there was no talk of the secrets, but only of prayer for nonbelievers.
It wasn’t until the following morning that a Friend of Medjugorje was informed of the attack upon him. He learned of it just before going over to Mirjana’s for the apparition. Keep in mind that as this was evolving, the tens of thousands around the world were together in prayer, in anticipation of Our Lady’s apparition. Keep in mind, the great graces that were being given to them all at this same time. Keep in mind there were many promoters of Medjugorje who were very jealous of the success of a Friend of Medjugorje’s mission and growing influence and many jumped in on aligning against him. Following is the faxed statement that a Friend of Medjugorje read that was spread to all the Medjugorje centers while this beautiful outpouring of love for nonbelievers was being raised to Heaven to greet Our Lady when She descended to earth in Medjugorje. satan’s fury had been raised up to create damage control because of the many conversions that would come from this event.
A wrong interpretation of the event? Was it not to gather to pray for nonbelievers? Was the invitation not made by Our Lady to join Her, in Her presence? Where then is the wrong interpretation? Why would this be a problem for anyone?
1. The letter above, sent out on February 2, 1997, spreading the false information says that Mirjana said:
“She (Our Lady) wants to open this meeting to everyone, as She needs us to pray for unbelievers.”
A Friend of Medjugorje wrote in the December 1996/February 1997 Caritas Newsletter:
“Clearly Our Lady is inviting us to join in praying for all nonbelievers…”
2. The letter above, written by the religious on February 2, 1997 states:
Mirjana clearly stated the Gospa had not mentioned anything connected to the secrets [You will read on down that this statement is taken out of context]…She didn’t let us assume they [the secrets] would be released soon.”
In the Prayer for Nonbelievers, written in June 1996 by a Friend of Medjugorje, it states:
“We will pray that the dam of love, of God’s mercy, will break forth, that your new prayer be released ‘soon’.”
A Friend of Medjugorje is asking that the new prayer for the conversion of nonbelievers be released soon. The Prayer for Nonbelievers does not refer to nor mention the secrets. However, revealed in The Poem of the Man-God, which Our Lady said one must read these books, it is interesting to note, as a young girl in the Temple, Our Lady prayed earnestly that God would shorten the time and send the promised Messiah ‘soon’. The Prayer for Nonbelievers, written by a Friend of Medjugorje, asking for the conversion of nonbelievers and the quick release of the prayer for them, is reminiscent to that of Our Lady’s own prayer for the coming of the Messiah 2,000 years ago.
3. The religious author (not Mirjana) of the letter above, written February 2, 1997 states:
“Any connection between this new type of prayer meeting and the secrets is only sheer human imagination.”
A Friend of Medjugorje writes in Mirjana, A Mystery is Revealed, which was published in 1996, of his personal interview with Mirjana. In the interview, a Friend of Medjugorje asks Mirjana what prayers she prays with Our Lady on the second of each month. Mirjana herself stated:
“Special prayers. They are connected to the secrets! They are prayed for nonbelievers or people who do not know the love of God…they are connected to the secrets.” Mirjana added, “But they are not the secrets.”
A Friend of Medjugorje states, “It is obvious Medjugorje is connected to the secrets. The visionaries are connected to the secrets. Apparition Mountain is connected to the secrets. The letter of the religious caused damaging confusion.”
Is Mirjana “imagining” the connection between this new prayer and the secrets?
4. The author (not Mirjana) of the letter above, written February 2, 1997 states:
“Mirjana insists that Our Lady wants us to pray rather than speak about the secrets.”
Then why, over the decades, do the visionaries, including Mirjana, make it known to the people when Our Lady speaks to them of the secrets? Why not leave this detail out?
December 26, 1982
This is information which Mirjana gave to Father Tomislav Vlasic on November 5, 1983. He conveyed this information to the Pope on December 16, 1983. Father Vlasic’s letter was published in “Is the Virgin Mary Appearing at Medjugorje?” (Paris, 1984), with this introduction:
During the apparition of December 25, 1982, according to Mirjana, the Madonna confided to her the tenth and last secret, and revealed to her, the dates in which the different secrets will be realized… The ninth and tenth secrets are serious. They concern chastisement for the sins of the world…”
June 25, 1989
This is Ivanka’s Annual Apparition which lasted approximately eight minutes in all…She spoke about the fifth secret.
December 25, 2010
The following is Jakov’s description of the apparition:
Our Lady spoke to me about the secrets and at the end said:
Additionally, Our Lady Herself stated to Mirjana on January 28, 1987:
While God has not permitted Our Lady to reveal to the world what the secrets are, God desires to make it known that there are secrets coming. In the Old Testament, before God brought down admonitions or chastisements to His people, it is written that He sent His prophets to warn the people.
The Scripture relates through Jeremiah and other prophets to, “Proclaim it in the streets.”
5. The author (not Mirjana) of the letter above, written February 2, 1997 states:
“The most important thing is not to gather at the same hour as in Medjugorje, but that everyone should be able to join.”
A Friend of Medjugorje wrote in the December 1996/February 1997 Caritas Newsletter:
“We are privileged to even know about Heaven’s plans and much more so to be able to actually participate in them…Do whatever you are inspired to do…These are particular times…It requires love to rise up and pray in the night…”
And to date, as Mirjana’s second of the month apparitions have ended, there is a continued call, that was established 23 years ago, for everyone to gather together in prayer at one time on the second of each month.
In the fax above, it states, “If Mirjana lived in the States, Our Lady would visit her at day time, and not at night, I guess.” How would anyone know that? Medjugorje visionary Marija has been at Caritas many times over the years and Our Lady has appeared as late as 11:30 PM. In Medjugorje, on the Mountain, Ivan often has had apparitions at 10:30 or 11:00 PM. Many pilgrims don’t get to bed until 1:00 to 3:00 AM by the time they make it down from the mountain. Why was the fact that many people were getting up in the middle of the night to be in prayer with Our Lady being put in such a negative light?
Our Lady of Medjugorje said in 1993:
A Friend of Medjugorje, in his experience with Our Lady and in dealing with souls, has seen that many times, if satan cannot get people to lose their belief, it is sufficient for satan to get people to lose their enthusiasm. Something new, something fresh often serves to enkindle enthusiasm, as what was happening to thousands around the world. What a travesty that water was going to be thrown on the fire of conversion with the excuse for the need of “calm and solid common sense.” In a private meeting at the Vatican, a Friend of Medjugorje was once told by Cardinal Emilio Trujillo, head of the Pontifical Counsel of the Family, that there are many good people doing bad things. The above faxed statement was just the beginning. That same day, another statement came out from another religious:
“We write in order to avoid the spreading of rumors like those that were recently spread in a sensational way to many Medjugorje prayer groups and caused much confusion and ‘ inconvenience.’”
These letters were printed and re-printed in numerous Medjugorje publications across the world. Needless to say, these letters caused great confusion in the Medjugorje world, in the hearts of believers, and a dampening of fervor in those who were already shaky in their commitment. Mirjana was approached by other Medjugorje people and told that a Friend of Medjugorje was causing confusion and agitation. Looking back 23 years later, we do not deny that there was agitation caused – against the kingdom of darkness. Following is a letter that was posted in another Medjugorje publication that came through the Parish Office of Medjugorje:
With each new statement, facts became more distorted. A Friend of Medjugorje never wrote that the February 2, 1997 apparition had anything to do with the secrets. Nor did he insinuate that Mirjana or Our Lady asked for people to meet in churches before the Blessed Sacrament. Those who actually read what he wrote were in peace and not in a state of confusion or fear. They understood that it was an opportunity to do something for Our Lady, to join with people around the world to respond to Our Lady’s gesture of opening up Mirjana’s apparition with prayer.
As you will read below, the statement from the letter displays how the authority in Medjugorje believe it is their “call” that is to be responded to regarding who can be part of Medjugorje.
“With this letter, furthermore, I openly proclaim that those who have spread this news no longer belong to the family of Medjugorje.”
It is Our Lady Who is calling, not those who think they can choose who is in the circle or not in the circle to be favored. The statement “openly proclaimed” is made to publicly denounce a Friend of Medjugorje. What is the purpose of this statement? What might be the motivation? The letter continues and clearly reveals the motivation in the next two sentences. Read each sentence slowly.
“Our Information Center regularly sends out news of happenings in Medjugorje and all-important information about the visionaries.
“This is an occasion [This is our opportunity] to deny attention to [to slander; to murder the reputation of and to kill the voice of] those who willfully and selfishly spread news of the happenings in Medjugorje [apart from our control and power and self-interests].
What does the Parish Office want? What do they do? They want to be the only ones who send out news of the happenings in Medjugorje and information about the visionaries. Anyone else who does is “selfishly” spreading the news of Medjugorje. Who is selfish?
The aim of the parish statement was to shame and ostracize a Friend of Medjugorje, and force him out of Medjugorje, along with breaking up these prayer meetings. However, many groups continued to hold vigil every second of the month because of what they felt in their hearts. They experienced peace and grace. They opposed those who were saying “Do not get up at the same time of the apparitions to pray.” But for some, the enthusiasm and joy that they had felt and testified to through letters and phone calls was destroyed. The statement was to decimate the mission of Caritas through damaging a Friend of Medjugorje’s credibility and reputation. Others were confused and didn’t know whether to continue or not with these prayer vigils, as the following letter shows:
The above letter typed out:
Hi! I’m a Field Angel, and we have been praying at 4:00 AM on the 2nd [of the month]—here in Illinois. We’ve encouraged people to only come to church if they really want to (many elderly, with children, etc.), but that our prayers would be united with theirs. This letter was presented to me at our Marian Movement of Priests Cenacle the evening of the 2nd. We were in church at 4:00 AM (17 of us). People are now somewhat confused. I suspect that satan may have a hand in this possibly, but this is from Medjugorje. Please comment—we are only praying in church for nonbelievers, not secrets to be released, etc. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you. God’s blessings in these difficult approaching times.
Fran, East Dundee, Illinois
The growing influence of a Friend of Medjugorje was the foundation of the attacks. Many jumped on the bandwagon to ban him from Medjugorje. The letter, regarding talking to Mirjana, was put out to check a Friend of Medjugorje’s influence. It stated:
“I did not obtain the impression that there is anything new.”
Mirjana was receiving inner locutions and Our Lady changed that to actual apparitions—and that was nothing new? Our Lady wasn’t coming to Mirjana at any fixed time, but named a definite time for the apparition—and that was nothing new? Mirjana’s meetings were private, only for her, but suddenly Our Lady declared that everyone could now attend them—and that was nothing new? Nothing’s changed? We know why there has been a minimizing of the events of the apparitions and that is all we will share about that topic. Of course, we now know the February 2, 1997 apparition was the beginning of a huge plan of Our Lady regarding the conversion of nonbelievers; that it was making way for the second of the month messages with a unique character different from Marija’s 25th of the month messages and that the second of the month would become the biggest draw for pilgrims coming to Medjugorje for years.
A Friend of Medjugorje didn’t have to know exactly what was behind Our Lady’s actions on February 2, 1997, he only knew that everything Our Lady does is significant and has purpose and meaning. Therefore, we who follow Her, must respond however everyone is inspired to respond. A Friend of Medjugorje was attacked because he dared to be a voice defining Medjugorje. He had a unique understanding of Our Lady’s messages, and many people were beginning to follow him. His growing following and influence had to be stopped, but he refused to allow Caritas of Birmingham to turn into a cookie cutter Medjugorje center. He knew from his own experience and many others he had met over the years that if any nail was standing up apart from the others, it was to be hammered down. But this was contrary to Our Lady’s own words. Our Lady wanted everyone to have the freedom to live and spread Her messages as each was inspired to do. In a monthly message given while Marija was staying in the home of a Friend of Medjugorje and his wife, Our Lady said:
November 25, 1988
This message is the perfect mirror of what the February 2, 1997 prayer gathering was for many people who participated in the night vigil. “…Watch in vigil so that every encounter in prayer be the joy of your contact with God…” While many followed the lead of a Friend of Medjugorje, sadly others, many others, fell away.
Yet, for all that happened in those turbulent days of February 1997, Our Lady came on March 2, 1997, the following second of the month, and in an apparition to Mirjana spoke these words:
March 2, 1997
For those who had in their hearts only concern for earthly “inconvenience”, Her words were a direct contradiction. For those against people getting up in the middle of the night to pray, in the darkness of night, Our Lady said, to “Be my light… where darkness reigns.”
The controversy, which was created, not by a Friend of Medjugorje, but by those who made controversy out of his words, effectively stopped Our Lady. How was Our Lady stopped? In the end, they trusted themselves over Our Lady’s plans. History now shows, that after March 2, 1997, Mirjana withdrew from the public once again. This was to become the last public second of the month message until January 2, 2000. Many past apparitions had interference by the authorities who placed themselves over Our Lady. Fatima’s miracle of the sun dancing and the muddy ground drying up was a much smaller miracle than what Our Lady was going to give. What decreased its fullness was because the authorities arrested the children.
A Friend of Medjugorje has relayed over and over through the years the following:
“Have we lost things Our Lady wanted to do in Medjugorje because of self-interest, seeking power, personal agendas? We can say yes. Our Lady has wanted much more than what Her visitation brings but often Our Lady’s plans interfere with human plans. There are serious tragedies that have severely hurt Our Lady’s wants and plans. But they won’t be mentioned for the sake of Medjugorje and the good not to be hurt.”
– Caritas of Birmingham
The story does not end here. Continue on to read Chapter 3 now ⇒
Today is the second release of a new Medjugorje book. This is the first time this story is told. Each day, there will be a new chapter released. Each chapter is about a 20 minute read. Spread this to all your friends and family, to your prayer group members, mail lists and all your social media.
The story does not end here. Continue on to read Chapter 3 now ⇒
5 thoughts on “The Plan for Nonbelievers from Dark to Light & the Resistance Against It – Chapter 2”
Thank you or your writings. I am Learning a lot. God Bless
After reading this I seem inspired to get up in the middle of the night for prayer.
It’s disturbing to me that competition exits between the faithful people of Medjugorje. I was talking about my experience of Medjugorje and introducing your community to a close friend. While I was looking for videos of Medjugorje on youtube, I came across a video of Fr. Leon Pereira, 3/9/2018 (I immediately recognized him as a priest that said Mass in Medjugorje when I was on a pilgrimage with Caritas in May of 2018.) At the end of his talk he asked for questions, a man asked what he thought about Caritas of Birmingham Al. Unfortunately the response was not positive. (I think he reveals who stated the confusion that you write about in your new book, The Plan for Non Believers, From Dark to Light and the Resistance Against It). My immediate response was oh boy this is not good for the community. So the “attacks” are still prevalent today. God Bless and thank you for the work that you are doing for us and our Blessed Mother.
My heart goes out to all those who suffered because of these seeded divisions, to a Friend of Medjugorje and the community and especially to those who were who were “turned-off” to the apparitions. Fortunately, God has a way of using suffering to grow new life. (John 12:24 Unless a grain of wheat shall fall upon the ground and die, it remains just a grain of wheat, but if it dies it produces much fruit). It is my prayer that the shedding of light on the truth after much suffering brings forth an abundance of life and a new efficacy for the prayer for non-believers.
Since I learned about Our Lady In Medjugorje And the way a friend of Medjugorje presents her Some how I knew there would be controversy. I can never let go of my belief in her apparition and I am very thankful to friend of Medjugorje. I have read to my kids and spoken to friends but the reaction I get is that they say they believe but I think they say they believe just to fit in. satan is a powerful force if we let him and that’s what is hard to explain to friends. Thanks friend of Medjugorje. I know you have our Mother’s strength thru all this.GOD bless You all Santos & Rosie