In the past few days, the reflection material has been prompting me to experience Mary gazing into my eyes.
I haven't had many Marian experiences, and the most significant one would have to be the pilgrimage to Our Lady of Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, it wasn’t exactly a pilgrimage, but rather a case of being in the right place at the right time. It would have felt incomplete not to visit Medjugorje, the site where the Virgin Mary appeared to six children since June 24, 1981. Those six children; Van Dragičević, Ivanka Ivanković, Jakov Čolo, Marija Pavlović, Mirjana Dragičević, and Vicka Ivanković; now adults and continue to receive apparitions.
The trip to Medjugorje took place during the Adriatic Adventures trip to Croatia in 2017. Bry, Mich and YR were also intrigued by the exoticness of stepping foot into Bosnia and Herzegovina even for a day. We made the 2.5-hour drive from the old town of Dubrovnik with a private guide to visit Medjugorje (St. James Church and Apparition Hill) and Mostar (a historic city known for its iconic Stari Most, or Old Bridge, spanning the Neretva River, as well as its Ottoman-era architecture and bustling bazaar).
The sun was blazing down insanely on that faithful day as south of Europe was swept with heatwave, "Lucifer". "Lucifer," sent temperatures soaring to record high and while I can't be certain, we were definitely in the high 30s to 40 degrees Celsius. Let's just say it was "热到不能说" (too hot to describe). While purchasing a drink at a convenience store in Mostar, a man collapsed to the ground right before my eyes! He likely had a heatstroke and customers were cooling him down with bottled water! Mich, YR, and the guide decided to skip the climb up Apparition Hill in favor of ice coffee at the foot of the hill, which they deemed one of the best decisions of the trip.
Before we tackled Apparition Hill, we visited the grounds of the Church of St. James in Medjugorje. Holy Mass was celebrated every hour at the church. I became one of the millions from around the world who have embarked on this pilgrimage. While I knew I would be in Medjugorje, I wasn’t fully prepared for the experience as a devotee. The day trip didn’t allow for much time at the site. By the time I arrived, Mass had already started and the church was packed full to the brim. I opted instead to spend some quiet time in prayer before a Marian statue just a short distance from the church. Despite the constant arrival of coach buses full of pilgrims, this spot remained surprisingly peaceful and serene. Though I can’t remember the specific prayer I said, the few moments I spent asking for Mary’s intercession were profoundly peaceful and assuring. With Mary, it always is. I recall that my heart was filled with the stirring of the Holy Spirit.
Bry and I then began the 500 meter climb (about 1,640 feet) to Apparition Hill, also known as Podbrdo. “Medjugorje” literally means “between mountains,” as the town sits nestled between two hills: Križevac and Podbrdo. Considering Singapore’s tallest hill at Bukit Timah stands only 164 meters high, we were battling rocky boulders, thorny bushes, and steep terrain all the way up to the Statue of Mary, “Queen of Peace.” Along the path, we passed bronze plaques commemorating each mystery of the Joyful Rosary. The late morning sun blazed down relentlessly, and it took us a little over an hour to reach the summit. At the top, stood the statue of Mary, surrounded by a small fence, with a wooden crucifixion cross behind her and the town stretching out before us. It felt as if Mary were watching over Medjugorje, praying for her people. Despite the presence of other pilgrims, there was a sense of reverence and quiet respect for the space.
The start of the ascent up Apparition Hill
Terrain that wasn't exactly a walk in the park
Queen of Peace on Apparition Hill
I took a brief moment to pray before the statue of the Queen of Peace, gazing into her eyes and reflecting on Mary’s plea for conversion to God, a life of holiness, constant prayer, and the need for peace.
Reflecting, I realize that visiting Medjugorje was never a part of any plan. But somehow, I knew I was meant to be there. It was a personal invitation, hidden amidst the adventures of the trip, calling me to draw closer to Our Lord. And in this way, I’ve come to understand how Mary guides and teaches me. The focus never on her but always on how she points the way to Jesus.
Read:
Ascension Lenten Companion - Walking with Mary to Jerusalem (with Fr. Mark Toups)
Assumption
Mothers
FORMED Live Holy Week (Dr. Tim Gray) Part 1 of 2
Lent 2015
Entering Into Holy Week
Lenten Reflection 2009
Getting Lent Right
Lent 2004
Last week of Lent
Into Lent
🙏
ReplyDelete