Bishops in Medjugorje and About Medjugorje until 2001

Other languages: English, Deutsch, Français, Hrvatski, Italiano, Polski

Bishops in Medjugorje and About Medjugorje, part XI

American Archbishop Visits Medjugorje, February 1996

In these days we note the presence of an Archbishop; namely msgr. Philip Hannan, retired Archbishop of New Orleans. During his active service Msgr. Hannan had already started a home t.v. channel whose purpose was to bring their viewers and listeners in to the situations of the suffering and the afflicted people throughout the world; thereby communicating to the large number of people who worry about their suffering. Using this means he wishes to touch those belonging to the Christian world, and even those who are not Christian, so that we recognise Jesus in our neighbour who await help from us, their brothers and sisters. Archbishop Hannan, together with his t.v. crew visited Bosnia Hercegovina in these days. They stopped off at Tusla and at Sarajevo, where he had an appointment with Cardinal Vinko Pulic: The purpose of the visit was to televise, thereby acquainting the American public with the humanitarian activities undertaken by the various humanitarian organisations from the U.S.A., and the activity of the Ameican IFOR units in the accomplishment of lasting peace in this area. They left their inevitable journey to Medjugorje until the end of their tour. The Archbishop stayed a few days at the Shrine. During the course of his stay here he visited the childrens village. The suffering and pain of these children left a deep impression on him, so much so, that in tears, he said: "God himself touched those who built this." After this Archbishop Hannan visited the "Cenacle" community which is devoted to the healing of young people addicted to drugs.

Belgian Bishop about Medjugorje, November 1995

The friends and pilgrims of Medjugorje recently organised a prayer meeting in the Belgian town of Baeuring. On that occasion the Eucharistic adoration was led by bishop Namura msgr Leonard. During his sermon, amonst other things he said the following:

The Church still hasn't given her official stance regarding the apparitions at Medjugorje. With trust and prayer we await it. I too went to Medjugorje. I came, I saw, and I believed in the trustworthiness of what is happening there. Every Marian apparition is an occasion of heaven opening towards the earth, and gives us a chance to smile upon heavens gift of love. What impresses me especially is the persistence of Our Lady during our times. Sometimes people say to me,"how is it possible that the apparitions are lasting so long?" or "How much she speaks!" I personally have no calculated idea about how long she should be speaking. I say to myself that maybe Mary is knocking on our door with the unusually longlasting apparitions precisely because in these times there are urgent and great needs. I interpret Mary's persistency as an urge to conversion. The fruits of Medjugorje are blessed fruits. Often people have confided to me their experiences which I can verify because they were accompanied with rich experiences of conversion, an openness to prayer, love peace penance and fasting, which brings them back to the sacramental life and the Eucharist....

I would like to invite both myself and you here, to accept all these incessant invitations and especially the invitation to prayer and fasting so that peace can come to this world and to our families and to our hearts."

The Visit of the Bishop / Exorcist, August 1995

Amongst the numerous pilgrims who visited the shrine during this month of August , the world famous Bishop Exorcist, Emmanuele Milingo was to be found. He prayed for healing of the sick in the parish church. He announced that Medjugorje was a place which greatly helps to triumph over the satanic influences of this world.

The Visit of the Australian Bishop to Medjugorje, July 1995

For the fifteenth anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions at Medjugorje, inquisitive looks of pilgrims and others present, were attracted towards the figure of bishop Henry Kennedy, from Australia. He was in Medjugorje for the third time and he came clad in all the signs of episcopal office. He said that in his heart he felt that he simply must do this. He desires that the Church recognise Medjugorje as soon as possible, just like Lourdes and Fatima. In Medjugorje he feels peace and a most beautiful tide of freindship which he would like to feel between people in Australia. He is not afraid of the war, because in Medjugorje it cannot be felt. He expressed regret that so many lies abut this war are believed and he wishes for the success of the Croatian people in their just struggle.

The Visit of the French Bishop to Medjugorje, May 1995

From the french town of Gapa, bishop Georges Lagranges arrived in Medjugorje! He remained in Medjugorje a week. On the occasion of his meeting with the franciscans of Medjugorje he said:

"I come from the town of Gapa in France. My diocese borders on Italy. This is my first visit to Medjugorje and if I am correct, only two French bishops have visited up to the present."

To the question: "Does the fact that the apparitions are lasting so long surprise you?", he replied "Not in the least, because this happened to us too, three hundred years ago. That is, in my diocese, the Blessed Virgin appeared to a young girl when she was only sixteen years of age, and those visions lasted until the end of her life. She died at seventy two years of age. She never even counted how many times she saw the Mother of God. Her conversations with Our Lady began with teaching her to be a patient little shepherdess, they continued and finished with mystical visions of Christ crucified, in which she participated in his pain. It is interesting to note that Our Lady led this little visionary to a place where there was a waterfall. She told the girl that a house should be built there for priests whereby they would be able to host pilgrims who wished to come to make their peace with God in the sacrament of confession. This is how the Marian shrine "Our Lady of the Waters", came about. I would also like to add that in today's world there are many clashes between people and religions, and in this area in particular it has come to expression. I believe that it is precisely because of this, that the Blessed Virgin chose Medjugorje as a place of complete and true reconciliation".

 

For God to live in your hearts, you must love.

`