MEDJUGORJE'
July 6, 2000
July 6, 2000
It was the year 2000. The third year of a trinity Jubilee celebration. Here we were
travelling in a bus toward Medjugorje along the Aegean sea coastline.
Gleaming marble hills,tiled red roofs, green growth everywhere.
I am feeling the deep serenity and stillness in the air...
and turning to God the Father for all our needs.
Mountainous silhouettes echoing one another.
A Mantle of mountains...
Stately...
Embracing...
Protective...
Silent sentinels.
There is a River...
A River of Grace Flowing from the Triune Throne
A River of peace and mercy that flows like wine.
Sunday; July 9th... Rooming in "Maria's House" with the family of Jozo Vasilj- Turin and other pilgrims, sharing meals and conversations amid many different dialects. Life is suddenly slowing down. Our travel time was near 17 hours, including the air flight, stopovers for changes and the bus ride into the town.
We gathered for welcoming the other pilgrims, evening prayer and rosary. The music: "Mary Did You Know?" was our song and praise.
A long 24 hours. Surprisingly we are not exhausted!
MOUNT KRIZEVAC
Monday; July 10th... The roosters awaken with their call to the dawn at 4:30 a.m.
I awakened with a sense of enveloping Presence, undeniable! Felt a tugging to walk. Putting on my hiking shoes in the dark of twilight, a desire came to walk through the vineyard toward the mountain which the
town folks said Our Blessed Mother appeared each morning at 6 a.m.
Walking alone into the new day beginning to dawn, was a leap of faith! There were no signs, no one to get directions from, no cell phones,and this was my first day here! My attempt led me across the road to a campfire pit. Nothing! "Okay, guardian Angel, show me the way...help me!" My watch read 4:30, there was time. Relax! I remember seeing a sparkle, like a firefly would make. It caught my eye...a sign
Turning around ,the fields and vineyards were sighted.
I began walking with a sigh of relief and gratitude for the help of my guardian Angel. Mount Krizevac was on the other side of the vineyard and it could be seen! So I entered and began walking toward the mountain.
Little did I know just how high these vines grew! They were way over my head obstructing my desired destination, and now ...which way do I go?
Everything seemed to be turned around and this was a maze, seemingly unending. My watch read 5 a.m.
"Help me Angel! just show me the way!" Suddenly, a clear voice within gently spoke," This is the way...walk in it". "Take a right". As I followed the voice to the next crossing and the next,I continued to hear, "take this left", and so on. There was a clearing! The time? 5:55 a.m.
Looking around into the blue sky there wasn't a cloud in sight! What a beautiful day!
And looking toward the mountaintop... there appeared a glowing shaped figure in a halo of a cloud at the cross!
"What am I seeing, Mother? Is that you?"
Again, looking around into the sky, there were no clouds, and when I turned again the oval figure had vanished!
MY PRAYER AT MOUNT KRIZEVAC
I knelt to pray...
"Do not leave me, Blessed Lady... don't leave me.
Stay with me. I am weak - You are strong and full of Graces. I need you. Stay by my side.
Keep me ever mindful of your Presence. Stay at my side.
I consecrate to you today, my heart, soul... all I am and have.
I place in Your Heart, Mother, all whom I meet and their needs."
How could I ever say "I saw the Lady of Medjugorje' at 6 a.m. on Mount Krisvac?"
UNTIL......
Many years later as my friends and I sat at breakfast in a cafe' in town...
A woman walked over to our table and with some excitement, showed us a picture of the Madonna
who had appeared in the Catholic Church she attended...
It was the same vision I had seen on the mountain... with clear features!
Now I am able to "know that I know" what was shown to me.
At the same time there was a chance to witness my story to the others!
Someone sitting there, that very day, needed to see and to hear our sharing.
"God's ways are far above our ways and His thoughts far above our thoughts!"
Yet His timing is always perfect!
Sunday; July 9th... Rooming in "Maria's House" with the family of Jozo Vasilj- Turin and other pilgrims, sharing meals and conversations amid many different dialects. Life is suddenly slowing down. Our travel time was near 17 hours, including the air flight, stopovers for changes and the bus ride into the town.
We gathered for welcoming the other pilgrims, evening prayer and rosary. The music: "Mary Did You Know?" was our song and praise.
A long 24 hours. Surprisingly we are not exhausted!
MOUNT KRIZEVAC
Monday; July 10th... The roosters awaken with their call to the dawn at 4:30 a.m.
I awakened with a sense of enveloping Presence, undeniable! Felt a tugging to walk. Putting on my hiking shoes in the dark of twilight, a desire came to walk through the vineyard toward the mountain which the
town folks said Our Blessed Mother appeared each morning at 6 a.m.
Walking alone into the new day beginning to dawn, was a leap of faith! There were no signs, no one to get directions from, no cell phones,and this was my first day here! My attempt led me across the road to a campfire pit. Nothing! "Okay, guardian Angel, show me the way...help me!" My watch read 4:30, there was time. Relax! I remember seeing a sparkle, like a firefly would make. It caught my eye...a sign
Turning around ,the fields and vineyards were sighted.
I began walking with a sigh of relief and gratitude for the help of my guardian Angel. Mount Krizevac was on the other side of the vineyard and it could be seen! So I entered and began walking toward the mountain.
Little did I know just how high these vines grew! They were way over my head obstructing my desired destination, and now ...which way do I go?
Everything seemed to be turned around and this was a maze, seemingly unending. My watch read 5 a.m.
"Help me Angel! just show me the way!" Suddenly, a clear voice within gently spoke," This is the way...walk in it". "Take a right". As I followed the voice to the next crossing and the next,I continued to hear, "take this left", and so on. There was a clearing! The time? 5:55 a.m.
Looking around into the blue sky there wasn't a cloud in sight! What a beautiful day!
And looking toward the mountaintop... there appeared a glowing shaped figure in a halo of a cloud at the cross!
"What am I seeing, Mother? Is that you?"
Again, looking around into the sky, there were no clouds, and when I turned again the oval figure had vanished!
MY PRAYER AT MOUNT KRIZEVAC
I knelt to pray...
"Do not leave me, Blessed Lady... don't leave me.
Stay with me. I am weak - You are strong and full of Graces. I need you. Stay by my side.
Keep me ever mindful of your Presence. Stay at my side.
I consecrate to you today, my heart, soul... all I am and have.
I place in Your Heart, Mother, all whom I meet and their needs."
How could I ever say "I saw the Lady of Medjugorje' at 6 a.m. on Mount Krisvac?"
UNTIL......
Many years later as my friends and I sat at breakfast in a cafe' in town...
A woman walked over to our table and with some excitement, showed us a picture of the Madonna
who had appeared in the Catholic Church she attended...
It was the same vision I had seen on the mountain... with clear features!
Now I am able to "know that I know" what was shown to me.
At the same time there was a chance to witness my story to the others!
Someone sitting there, that very day, needed to see and to hear our sharing.
"God's ways are far above our ways and His thoughts far above our thoughts!"
Yet His timing is always perfect!
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