date: 29.06.2025.
On Wednesday, June 25, on the 44th anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions in Medjugorje, in addition to numerous pilgrims from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, there were also groups of pilgrims from: Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Romania, Slovenia, France, Ireland, England, Canada, the USA, Argentina, Mexico, Vietnam, Korea, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Throughout the day, as in the days leading up to the anniversary, a multitude of parishioners and pilgrims were at all Medjugorje prayer sites, as well as in the confession lines, and 21 Holy Masses were celebrated throughout the day.
The central Holy Mass celebration at 7 p.m. was presided over by Fr. Antonio Šakota, a priest of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province who serves as the head of the Croatian Catholic Mission in Bern.
Introducing the Mass celebration, Fr. Antonio said how happy it was to be a part of this vast multitude gathered tonight around the Lord's table!
''The Lord looked at us through his Mother and comforted us, but not only us. Here, the fruits grew from which, as someone said, the whole world is fed today. Those who would like to be here with us today but cannot because of the wars in their countries are also fed. Today, our prayers are directed especially to them. Therefore, the Queen of Peace, may the Lord today, through your intercession, fill all those who hunger for peace with good things, and send the rich away empty,” said Fr. Antonio Šakota at the beginning of the Holy Mass, which was celebrated with him by the Provincial and vicar of the Herzegovina Franciscan Province, Fr. Jozo Grbeš and Fr. Miro Šego, the parish priest of Medjugorje, Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, and 311 other priests. Fr. Stipe Iličić led the rosary before the Holy Mass.
In his homily, Fr. Antonio Šakota said that we are “gathered today around a mystery that transcends us and at the same time calls us to joyful participation.”
“We humans are not exactly inclined to participate in something that is beyond our control. Realities that are beyond our power, and yet require our participation, cause us more discomfort and fear than joy. I can’t. I’m not up to it. Why me? What will I get out of it? I didn’t exactly plan it that way. She who brought us here and gathered us around her Son also felt, as we heard in the Gospel, discomfort and confusion after the angel announced to her that she would be the Mother of the Son of God. Rejoice, Mary! Do not be afraid, Mary! She who, of all human creatures, knew how to receive the word most perfectly, she also conveys it to us today: “Little children, rejoice! Dear children, do not be afraid!” One: Here I am, is capable of changing the entire world. Your: Here I am, my: Here I am, opens the sky over our world. Even if you now think or say: “Well, almost nothing in my life was as I imagined”! – rejoice precisely because it was not as you imagined and if you will add this: “Well, my ideas were beautiful and good and noble too” – do not be afraid to open yourself to ideas much greater than your own! “Well, I am not up to that” – who told you that you were up to it? You will be able to do all things in the one who gives you strength. You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit and that your fruit may remain. Do not be afraid, believe! Therefore, once again, rejoice that you can participate in what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ, as St. Paul would say. Do not be afraid, even if you are sent as sheep among wolves. In me you have peace, a peace that the world cannot give. Therefore, let not your heart be troubled and let it not be afraid. I have overcome the world, said Jesus,'' said Fr. Antonio and he also referred to the beginning of the apparition of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje when she said: "Peace, Peace, Peace! Peace between man and God! Peace among men! Peace in man! Peace in the world!"
Words spoken 44 years ago seem as if they were spoken today. And the optimistic man of the 21st century cannot be surprised that even today one can wage war and kill and at the same time he will remain indifferent. Who made him indifferent, neither hot nor cold, the worst version of himself? Man decided to go alone, without God, the friend of men. And now there is no one left to tell him that there is also an enemy of men with a personal name – the devil, Satan,'' said Fr. Antonio, and speaking about the need for peace, he also quoted the words of Pope Francis spoken ten years ago in Sarajevo: "Peace is God's gift and plan for humanity, history and all of creation, which always encounters opposition from man and evil."
''In this school here, we are taught that it is necessary to call upon God. The One who once and for all defeated the one who is stronger than man. The darkness that looms over our world is actually like a dark, "black cross on which there is no Jesus." The cross without Jesus was a place of curse even 2000 years ago and as we watch this scene, we cry out: Peace, peace, peace. That is why we, disciples of Jesus, in this world that will not give us any privileges for being Christians, are called to live the Gospel. The privilege we have is Jesus’ promise of his Peace, while the Hebrew shalom would mean completeness, wholeness. This is God’s desire for our life, to be complete and whole. Here, in the school of Mary, we come to that peace, completeness and wholeness above all in awakening the awareness of our election. Here we are called “Dear children”, “Little children”. Here many have rediscovered their fundamental, unique and inalienable dignity – to be children of God. What joys it is to have a Father in heaven, who is always there and that I cannot fall deeper than into his hands! What hopes in his call, as St. Paul would say. Therefore thank you, Lord, that in this place of grace we discover that we are not just products of chance in the culture of orphans, but your beloved children who are not because they deserved it but because you wanted us because you are love," said Fr. Antonio Šakota, and he referred to the press conference held in the Vatican at which the Note of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith 'Queen of Peace' on the spiritual experience of Medjugorje was presented, and at which Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez recalled one of Our Lady's messages: "Not all religions of the world are equal before God. But you are all my children."
''You are all my children. Grant us, Lord, a little of your heart so that in the adversities of life we can always see what is essential - we are all your children - and so that we can protect each other, ourselves, our relationship with You, Lord, and the environment in which we live.
In this holy school, we learn again about something that we have gradually begun to forget - and that is sacrifice. Because of this forgetfulness of self-offering, society is bursting at the seams, families are falling apart, the Church is bleeding and individuals are spinning in circles around their ego. The path to Cross Mountain and Podbrdo is not easy and it requires sacrifice. You need open eyes to know where to put your foot, you also need patience to reach your goal, and you should stop occasionally to hear what the Lord is saying on the way. It is important to have someone with you so that you can lend a hand if you stumble and not get lost in the dark, and so by setting out alone, I gained a brother and sister on the way. This is a true school of life," said Fr. Antonio and reminded us, "how many of us, precisely in the sweat and effort of Cross Mountain and Podbrdo, with tearful eyes in the intimacy of the confessional, in the silence of adoration and at the Eucharistic table, listening to the words - "for all love, dear Mother" - made decisions of our entire lives in this place!"
"'God always speaks and His speech is heard when man is silent and leaves all his worries to Him because He is greater than our hearts," said Fr. Antonio, and he encouraged and concluded with Our Lady's message: "Little children, I am with you. I am your mother. Do not fear anything. I will protect you, I will guide you, I will help you, do not be afraid."
At the end of the Holy Mass, the parish priest of Medjugorje, Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, thanked the Lord for this grace and this day and for sending us the Queen of Peace for 44 years to guide and direct us on the right path.
''Our Lady still calls us to prayer today. Especially to prayer for peace. Let us respond to her call, pray, fast for peace. And let us pray that she may always remain with us and that her maternal intercession may always accompany us," said the parish priest of Medjugorje, Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić. He then thanked Fr. Antonio Šakota, who presided over the Holy Mass, Fr. Jozo Grbeš, and all the friars and priests concelebrating. He also thanked the parishioners from Vionica who carried the statue of Our Lady, as well as the parish choir of the Queen of Peace and the wind quartet from Trebižat, the police, the ambulance service, the Maltese, the mountain rescue service, the guards, volunteers, nuns, seminarians, novices, priests who hear confessions all day long...
The visionaries Ivan Dragićević and Marija Pavlović Lunetti, as on all days of the novena to the Queen of Peace on the eve of the 44th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady, prayed Mary's hymn of praise, the Magnificat, and after the Holy Mass, adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar followed, which continued in the church until seven in the morning.
The anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady was preceded by a novena. The Rosary was prayed daily for nine days on the Apparition Hill and on the White Dome of the Church of St. James, where it was led in front of a multitude of believers by Medjugorje parishioners, friars, members of Franciscan secular order, volunteers of Mary's Hands, and residents of the Mother's Village. The Holy Mass in the Novena was celebrated by Fr. Antonio Musa, Fr. Ljubo Kurtović, Fr. Alojzije Slavko Anđelić, Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, Fr. Danko Perutina, Fr. Miro Šego, Fr. Marin Karačić, Fr. Josip Serđo Ćavar, and on the eve of the 44th anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions by Fr. Ivan Landeka Jr. With the concelebration of several hundred priests during these nine days.
On the eve of the anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions and the feast of St. John the Baptist, the traditional 34th Peace March from Humac to Medjugorje was held in the morning hours, which gathered a large number of parishioners and pilgrims from all over the world. The procession was led by the parish priest of Medjugorje, Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, and the visionary Ivan Dragićević, and upon arrival in front of the Medjugorje church, a blessing with the Blessed Sacrament followed. In the afternoon, participants of the 6th votive pilgrimage from Čitluk to Medjugorje also arrived in Medjugorje, which concluded the great novena of this parish to the Queen of Peace, in which they walked every Sunday from the Čitluk church to the Apparition Hill. (PHOTO)
