A friends testimony:-
Christmas 2006 in Medjugorje
I have just spent the most wonderful, joyful, prayerful Holy Christmas I have ever experienced in the little village called Medjugorje in Bosnia Herzegovina where Our Blessed Lady is appearing every day to visionaries and has done so for over 25 years and on Christmas day She appeared with Baby Jesus in her arms to Jacov who only sees her now on Christmas day. She gave two messages on Christmas Day The first one to Jacov
Today is a great day of joy and peace. Rejoice with me. Little children, in a special way, I call you to holiness in your families. I desire, little children, that each of your families be Holy and that God's joy and peace, which God sends you today in a special way, may come to rule and dwell in your families.
Little children, open your hearts today on this day of grace, decide for God and put Him in the first place in your family. I am your Mother. I love you and give you my Motherly Blessing”. and the second message later in the
day to Maria:-
Dear children! Also today I bring you the newborn Jesus in my arms. He who is the King of Heaven and earth, He is your peace. Little children, no one can give you peace as He who is the King of Peace. Therefore, adore Him in your hearts, choose Him and you will have joy in Him. He will bless you with His blessing of peace. Thank you for having responded to my call."
My Christmas started with English Mass on Christmas eve at 12 noon and after lunch as it was a beautiful sunny day I decided to climb Apparition Hill alone saying the Rosary. It was incredibly moving to be there on that day, as I prayed atop the mountain. I accidentally went down the wrong way and ended up at the Blue Cross, where there were no pilgrims at all, at either of the two Blue Crosses,both places are usually very busy (Our Lady also appears here to Ivan) so I knew Our Lady had guided me that way.
I took some photos and prayed there until other people came. I then walked home and went to St James' church for the Rosary at 5pm where we prayed the Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries during which they have a silent time when Our Lady appears to the visionaries at 5.40pm and then at 6pm we had the Medjugorje Children sing the first Mass of Christmas which was truly Heavenly and delightful.
Afterwards we had the living Nativity play outside and even though it was now dark and cold it was extraordinarily beautiful. It was performed by the young people of the Cenacolo communities of Sr Elvira, in Medjugorje, who
are all recovered drug-addicts. They had constructed a small village of Bethlehem just behind the church with its own stable for the Holy Family, and a bright star above It was very well done. I then went home at about 8.30pm, before returning to the Church again at about 9pm in order to get a seat for the Christmas Adoration, as by now Medjugorje was positively packed with pilgrims,
We had Eucharistic Adoration (incredibly beautiful at Medjugorje) from 10pm until 12 midnight followed by Midnight Mass which was so glorious until 1.15am we ended the day singing a loud joyous Gloria with clapping. As well as the church being full the yellow hall, (a large hall nearby)was full as was a large green tent and people were also outside the church watching on large screens
The Crib in St James' church is the largest and nicest Crib I have ever seen and I prayed there often. On Christmas Day I went to the 12 noon English Mass which was again beautiful but as there were not as many English speaking pilgrims as others we had it in the small Adoration chapel but it was full.
After Mass I went home, had my dinner and then again climbed Apparition Hill praying the Joyful mysteries, it was even quieter than yesterday but so poignant to be there on this day. I prayed for everybody family, friends and the world.
The rest of my time there for the 14 days was spent in a similar way. New Years Eve was amazing we spent 10 hours in the church from 20 to 4 in the afternoon until 20 to 2 in the morning because if we left we would never get in again for the Adoration and Midnight Mass .
There was glorious singing during and after that Mass until 20 to 2 and then singing and dancing on the steps outside afterwards.
Also throughout this period there were many fireworks let off by the locals as it is traditional there, this I was not keen on as they were so noisy.
On the 2nd January I was present at a public apparition of Our Lady to Mirjana and it was so awesome, I smelt roses after Our Lady left. If you would like to see Mirjana at this apparition it is online here:-
I know many Catholics do not really believe in Medjugorje but it is real, I have seen signs myself this Christmas, I saw the sun spin and had 2 pairs of Rosary beads turn gold coloured and saw the Cross on Cross Mountain spin also.
Fr Jozo is another saint from Medjugorje he spent 18 months in prison as he would not deny the apparitions when the communists ruled there, he has had many miracles happen to him in prison and has seen Our Lady also. I went to his church, a drive out of Medjugorje on the Friday after Christmas and got blessed by him, many people rest in the Spirit when he blesses them, I was just a little shaky.
All in all I will never forget this Christmas, on three occasions I was in tears in the church.Thanks be to God. Stella
Today is a great day of joy and peace. Rejoice with me. Little children, in a special way, I call you to holiness in your families. I desire, little children, that each of your families be Holy and that God's joy and peace, which God sends you today in a special way, may come to rule and dwell in your families.
Little children, open your hearts today on this day of grace, decide for God and put Him in the first place in your family. I am your Mother. I love you and give you my Motherly Blessing”. and the second message later in the
day to Maria:-
Dear children! Also today I bring you the newborn Jesus in my arms. He who is the King of Heaven and earth, He is your peace. Little children, no one can give you peace as He who is the King of Peace. Therefore, adore Him in your hearts, choose Him and you will have joy in Him. He will bless you with His blessing of peace. Thank you for having responded to my call."
My Christmas started with English Mass on Christmas eve at 12 noon and after lunch as it was a beautiful sunny day I decided to climb Apparition Hill alone saying the Rosary. It was incredibly moving to be there on that day, as I prayed atop the mountain. I accidentally went down the wrong way and ended up at the Blue Cross, where there were no pilgrims at all, at either of the two Blue Crosses,both places are usually very busy (Our Lady also appears here to Ivan) so I knew Our Lady had guided me that way.
I took some photos and prayed there until other people came. I then walked home and went to St James' church for the Rosary at 5pm where we prayed the Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries during which they have a silent time when Our Lady appears to the visionaries at 5.40pm and then at 6pm we had the Medjugorje Children sing the first Mass of Christmas which was truly Heavenly and delightful.
Afterwards we had the living Nativity play outside and even though it was now dark and cold it was extraordinarily beautiful. It was performed by the young people of the Cenacolo communities of Sr Elvira, in Medjugorje, who
are all recovered drug-addicts. They had constructed a small village of Bethlehem just behind the church with its own stable for the Holy Family, and a bright star above It was very well done. I then went home at about 8.30pm, before returning to the Church again at about 9pm in order to get a seat for the Christmas Adoration, as by now Medjugorje was positively packed with pilgrims,
We had Eucharistic Adoration (incredibly beautiful at Medjugorje) from 10pm until 12 midnight followed by Midnight Mass which was so glorious until 1.15am we ended the day singing a loud joyous Gloria with clapping. As well as the church being full the yellow hall, (a large hall nearby)was full as was a large green tent and people were also outside the church watching on large screens
The Crib in St James' church is the largest and nicest Crib I have ever seen and I prayed there often. On Christmas Day I went to the 12 noon English Mass which was again beautiful but as there were not as many English speaking pilgrims as others we had it in the small Adoration chapel but it was full.
After Mass I went home, had my dinner and then again climbed Apparition Hill praying the Joyful mysteries, it was even quieter than yesterday but so poignant to be there on this day. I prayed for everybody family, friends and the world.
The rest of my time there for the 14 days was spent in a similar way. New Years Eve was amazing we spent 10 hours in the church from 20 to 4 in the afternoon until 20 to 2 in the morning because if we left we would never get in again for the Adoration and Midnight Mass .
There was glorious singing during and after that Mass until 20 to 2 and then singing and dancing on the steps outside afterwards.
Also throughout this period there were many fireworks let off by the locals as it is traditional there, this I was not keen on as they were so noisy.
On the 2nd January I was present at a public apparition of Our Lady to Mirjana and it was so awesome, I smelt roses after Our Lady left. If you would like to see Mirjana at this apparition it is online here:-
I know many Catholics do not really believe in Medjugorje but it is real, I have seen signs myself this Christmas, I saw the sun spin and had 2 pairs of Rosary beads turn gold coloured and saw the Cross on Cross Mountain spin also.
Fr Jozo is another saint from Medjugorje he spent 18 months in prison as he would not deny the apparitions when the communists ruled there, he has had many miracles happen to him in prison and has seen Our Lady also. I went to his church, a drive out of Medjugorje on the Friday after Christmas and got blessed by him, many people rest in the Spirit when he blesses them, I was just a little shaky.
All in all I will never forget this Christmas, on three occasions I was in tears in the church.Thanks be to God. Stella
