Today was incredible—the multitude of people from all over the world who came to Medjugorje to celebrate the 44th Anniversary of the apparitions of the Gospa (Our Blessed Mother).
Although it’s something we see here very often—thousands and thousands of pilgrims and parishioners gathered in prayer—it never ceases to amaze us how much love, faith, and hope they show as they respond to the call and come to ask the Mother of God to intercede with Jesus on their behalf, for their families, and for the whole world.
On this eighth day of the novena, Monsignor Murilo Krieger and Monsignor Jan Sobilo once again came to the apparition, and as on previous days, they stood next to the visionary Marija Pavlović-Lunetti. There was also a countless number of priests and religious who had come from all over.
“During the apparition, when the Virgin came, I entrusted to her all of us, all our intentions, everyone present here, but also all those who have asked us to pray for them. I especially asked Our Blessed Mother to intercede with her Son Jesus for peace in our hearts, in our families, and in the whole world. Especially where there is war, that there may be peace.
Our Blessed Mother prayed for a long time over us, and she prayed at length for peace. She blessed us all with the sign of the cross,” Marija said at the end of the apparition, which began at 4:58 AM and lasted a little over six minutes.
After praying the Magnificat, the litanies, and the Prayer for Peace by St. Francis, we received the blessing of the two bishops present. Filled with joy from the experience of Our Blessed Mother’s presence, we descended the hill praying the Glorious Mysteries, heading toward the Blue Cross.
At the conclusion of the Creed, the seven Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Be’s, and before returning to our homes and lodgings, Marija Pavlović-Lunetti took the microphone and said to us:
“I’m very happy with the visit of Monsignor Murilo. I’ve known him for almost forty years. He came to Medjugorje for the first time a very long time ago. Today is the last day he will be with us, as he is traveling to Rome for the Jubilee of Bishops. I told him that if he sees the Holy Father, to give him our love and greetings from Medjugorje.”
She then asked Monsignor Murilo Krieger to bless us once again, thus concluding this penultimate day of the Novena for Peace on Apparition Hill (Podbrdo).
