Today, on the 43rd anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin in Medjugorje, in addition to numerous pilgrims from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are also groups of pilgrims from: Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, France, Italy. , Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Ireland, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, United States, Brazil, Korea, China and New Zealand.
Throughout the day, as in the days leading up to the anniversary, many parishioners and pilgrims were in all the places of prayer in Medjugorje, as well as in the lines for confession, and 20 holy masses were celebrated during the day.
The central mass at 7:00 p.m. was presided over by the former parochial vicar of Medjugorje and today guardian of the Franciscan monastery of Tomislavgrad, Brother Bože Milić. Among the concelebrants were the provincial and vicar of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, Brother Jozo Grbeš and Brother Miro Šego, the parish priest of Medjugorje, Brother Zvonimir Pavičićand another 364 priests.
At the beginning of the Holy Mass, Brother Bože Milić called to pray for peace in the world, for peace in families, especially for peace in our hearts.
“Peace is found in the human heart or it is not found anywhere. In the human heart peace begins or war is waged. Let that be our prayer tonight. We can express our prayers and personal needs to the Lord through the Blessed Virgin Mary. And that’s good and that’s why we’re here. Let us sing with our hearts before the Lord and the Virgin. He understands us, he knows what we need and allows us to express what we need and why we came here, but here we are first gathered as a community, as a Church, and may our intentions be great and broad. We pray for the Church, we pray for the whole world…”invited to the beginning of the Holy Mass Brother Bože Milić, who in his sermon spoke about the power and importance of prayer, which the Virgin tells us about.
“And this year we gather around the Queen of Peace, as we have been doing for more than 40 years. Also this year we want to accompany Her, Mother and Queen of Peace, praying for us and for the entire world. We thank the Lord who sends us his Mother to be with us in these times of great changes. She understands us better and she can help us better, because she knows what is good for our time and what needs to be done. The Virgin has been our comfort and refuge all these years. She follows what happens with great love and concern and actively participates in our lives and the whole world. “She carefully observes what is needed in today’s world.”said Brother Bože Milić, adding that Our Lady also sees our needs, the small everyday and simple things, as well as the needs on special occasions.
“We are grateful because here we all find food that pleases all tastes, food suitable for every soul that seeks, that thirsts… here everyone gets what honest hearts seek. Someone is looking for comfort, someone is looking for healing, someone is looking for meaning, someone is looking for peace, someone is looking for a new beginning, someone is looking for a way to continue despite all the problems, and Mary comes to us and guides us with clarity and safety. Here the maternal hand of God embraces us all, encourages us and tells us to trust in God’s providence and that things will go on the right path, it tells us to surrender to the will of God following the example of Her “He did it perfectly and went the whole way.”said Brother Boze, emphasizing that while we express our prayers and needs, “Here we say first that it be according to your word, because that is what is best for me, for us and for the entire world.”
“We believers know that it is better when God’s will is done through us, not that we believers do something, but that God’s will is done through us.”said Friar Boze, explaining how Our Lady encourages us to bravely enter into the relationship with the Lord.
“And we have to take a step. We too must decide to start praying. We too must decide to live sacramentally. We also have to queue in front of the confessional. We are the ones who have to perhaps take a decisive step with the help of God, because we are free beings. We are people of free will, capable of relationship and communication with God. The Virgin encourages us to be brave here, to not be afraid. This is not the time to be afraid. This is not the time to hesitate. This is the moment of courage, of determination, when believers are asked to allow God to act in their lives. This is the moment when God shows us through Mary what happens when a person allows God to work in their life. Then things fall into place, then events take their course.”said Brother Bože and explained that when we allow God to work in our lives, we will not be free from problems, worries, illnesses, but in all this we will feel and experience God’s help and we will see a happy solution.
After the Holy Mass, an hour of adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament took place at the outside altar, which continued in silence until 7 a.m. inside the church.
