Vittorio Guerrera
In 1981, a child from Grude, suffering from Leukemia was promised an unconditional and certain cure. Despite this certainty and witnesses to this account, the child died toward the end of that year. A young woman suffering from cancer was told by doctors she would need a radical mastectomy. She made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje on foot and was told by the "seers" that the "Virgin" replied there was no need for an operation. The young woman died on December 24, 1983. According to Vicka, there are over 300 cures related to Medjugorje. One of the many alleged "cures" described in pro-Medjugorje books involves Venka Bilic-Brajcic from Split. In January 1980, she had her left breast removed and later received radiation treatment. After nine months, she began noticing scabs on her right breast. At the urging of her sister they, along with other women, began praying to Our Lady of Medjugorje for help. In a matter of days she reported an improvement in her condition. Fathers Laurentin and Rupcic write: "Venka feels well, and the medical certificate confirms that there is no sign of further metastases into the bone or other organs. Venka returned to Medjugorje to thank Our Lady. She submitted medical documents on September 8, 1982" (Is the Virgin Mary appearing at Medjugorje? p. 159). Venka Bilic-Brajcic died in June 1984. In 1984, Marko Blazevic, from Buna (near Mostar), was hospitalized due to a heart condition. He was to undergo a risky operation but was optimistic of the outcome because he was reassured by one of the "seers" that the "Virgin" had stated the operation would be successful provided they prayed. Marko had the operation and never regained consciousness and died. Perhaps the most famous case of a "cure" attributed to Medjugorje concerns Diana Basile from Milan. She allegedly was cured of multiple sclerosis and blindness in the right eye on May 24, 1984. In a short while, her story was being spread far and wide. Bishop Zanic recommended that the medical records be sent to the Medical Office of Lourdes, the most competent authority in these matters. In a detailed letter dated September 13, 1984, the President of the Office, Dr. Theodore Mangiapan, stated it is difficult to verify a cure regarding MS because it can go into remission on its own.
On January 14, 1985, as the hour of the apparition was approaching, a select number of visitors was allowed in the room of the apparitions. Among the group were: a German photographer, Fr. Slavko Barberic, Fr. Pervan, Louis Belanger (a Canadian reporter), and a Frenchman by the name of Jean-Louis. Fr. Pervan and Louis Belanger had movie cameras to film the "ecstasy." Once the "seers" arrived and knelt down to pray the "ecstasy" ensued. Momentarily, Jean-Louis formed the letter "V" with his index finger and middle finger and pointed them toward Vicka's eyes. At this point Vicka moved her head back. Although this was not a scientific test, this is evidence that the "seers" are aware of their surroundings, contrary to Laurentin and Rupcic's remarks: "The young people's perception of the external world is quite diminished. So their perception of the apparition is preserved from any interference" (p. 121). Vicka's reaction has been captured on film. She later tried to justify her reaction by saying:
I did not see Jean-Louis, nor his hand. I saw the Virgin, she had the Child Jesus in her arms. At a certain moment, the Child slipped, and I simply made a movement to stop him from falling. That's all! ("La Dame de Medjugorje," by M. de Gramont, in Chateleine, June 1985).)
It is highly unlikely for the Blessed Mother to be so careless as to cause the Child Jesus to fall. Furthermore, if Vicka were trying to prevent the Child Jesus from falling, would it not be natural to move forward with arms extended rather than to move back? Finally, it appears to be quite a coincidence that the Child Jesus was falling at the same moment Jean-Louis put his fingers near Vicka's eyes. Laurentin became unsettled because of this incident and devoted an entire page to justify this event in his "Supplement No. 3" (p. 32). As a result, from January 27, 1985, no one was to be admitted into the room of the apparitions.
Ivan's Great Lie
On March 7, 1985, Bishop Zanic sent two members of the Commission with the sealed envelope to visit Ivan. Having previously denied writing anything on paper, Ivan was now obliged to consent to having it opened. The Commission opened the envelope and found the following statements written:
The Blessed Virgin said that she will leave a sign: there will be a big shrine at Medjugorje in honor of my apparitions and this shrine will be in my image. The sign will be effected in the sixth month,
(signed) Ivan Dragicevic
With this significant discovery made, Fr. Laurentin defends himself by admitting Ivan acted imprudently. Ivan himself acknowledged the "Virgin" scolded him on March 13th: "I was reprimanded by the Virgin on the mountain yesterday." It is surprising that during the period of May 8, 1982 and March 13, 1985, and over a couple hundred apparitions, the "Virgin" never addressed this issue with Ivan! Bishop Zanic related: "Ivan confessed his error to me on April 11, 1985, and told me that he deserved to be punished... It is easy for human suggestion and the spirit of evil to infiltrate into the messages."
Medjugorje, Antithesis of Fatima
At Medjugorje the "Virgin" does not come with the title "Mediatrix of all Graces," rather, she is one who comes to pray with us. It is also implied in the messages that she does not want us to ask for her intercession. "I shall pray with you... I shall help you as much as it lies in my power to do so... I am not God. I need your prayers and your sacrifices to help me." The "Virgin" of Medjugorje seems so helpless and powerless. The Roman Catholic Church has always taught and believed Mary to be a powerful advocate for us before the throne of God. In each "Hail Mary" we recite "pray for us sinners..." The Second Vatican Council stated in its document Lumen Gentium:
By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of Her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix. This, however, is so understood that it neither takes away anything from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficacy of Christ the one Mediator (chap. VIII, par. 62).
At Medjugorje we hear the "Virgin" say "Peace! Peace! Peace! Be reconciled!" (June 26, 1981). There is no mention on how this "peace" is to come about. It is odd that the "Virgin" of Medjugorje does not mention the apparitions made at Fatima. It is as if she never appeared there! When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the three children of Fatima on July 13, 1917, She said:
"...God wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace... I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world."
The "Virgin" at Medjugorje claims her apparitions there are her last in this world. If this were so, one would expect some mention of Fatima and for the reason why Russia has NOT been consecrated as requested. Our Lady gave her "peace plan" at Fatima and if there is no peace it is because we have failed to comply with her requests. This failure on our part does not mean the Blessed Mother will forget Her requests made at Fatima or change them. When Sr. Lucia, the oldest of the seers, asked Our Lord why He would not convert Russia without the Holy Father making the consecration He replied:
Because I want My whole Church to acknowledge that consecration as a triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary so that it may extend its cult later on and put the devotion to the Immaculate Heart beside the devotion to My Sacred Heart...The Holy Father, he will do it but it will be late. Nevertheless, the Immaculate Heart of Mary will save Russia. It has been entrusted to her.
The Secrets of Medjugorje
It is said there are ten secrets which have been confided by the "Virgin" to the young people. This number is in fact a misrepresentation. The "Virgin" allegedly revealed ten secrets to each of the "seers" with only three being common to all. This means in actuality there are forty-five secrets! When each "Seer" has received his/her final secret, the "Virgin" will stop appearing to him/her. Mirjana received her last secret and apparition on December 25, 1982. "In addition to these secrets which are going to be made known, there are personal secrets given to each of the young people for his or her life" (Laurentin & Rupcic, p. 33).
Notwithstanding the personal secrets of the "seers", the excessive number of secrets is absurd and a mockery of the Fatima Secret. At Fatima, Our Lady revealed a secret to the children which contain three parts, one of which is yet to be revealed. It is not the scope of this booklet to present a dissertation on the reason it has not been revealed. For more information on the facts of Fatima the reader is encouraged to obtain: World Enslavement or Peace... It's Up To The Pope by Fr. Nicholas Gruner; The Whole Truth About Fatima: Science and the Facts by Br. Michael of the Holy Trinity. Both of these books can be purchased from: Immaculate Heart Publications, Box 1028, Buffalo, New York, 14205.
Conclusion
Within this brief study I have attempted to extrapolate some of the major points of Medjugorje which show that the events happening in Yugoslavia are uncharacteristic of the Blessed Mother and those who are recipients of Heavenly messages. In a message given on April 4, 1985, the "Virgin" declared:
Today is the day when I thought of giving you no more messages, because some of you do not accept me. But the parish has been put on the move and I desire to give you messages in a way that has not existed since the beginning of the world. I thank you for having followed my appeal.
Clearly, the apparitions of Medjugorje are being heralded as the greatest event in the Church since Pentecost. It is amazing how people are being weaned away from the message of Fatima which has the approval of five popes, to follow alleged apparitions which have been condemned by the Bishop of Mostar! A year after an attempt was made on his life, Pope John Paul II went to Fatima to publicly thank Our Lady and said: "Our Lady's message at Fatima remains ever relevant. It is still more relevant than it was sixty-five years ago. It is still more urgent!" It is only when each of us takes the Fatima message to heart that Russia will be converted and true peace will reign in the world. There is no way of circumventing Our Lady of Fatima's requests!
Can you not read the signs of the times? (Mt. 16:3)