MEDJUGORJE
– a surprise awaits you
Elizabeth
Ash-Peacock
From
The Mountains of BC Canada to the Mountains of Bosnia Herzegovina
First
Time Pilgrim Elizabeth Ash Peacock
Residing
in Whistler, Nr Vancouver, Canada tells her story.
Elizabeth aged 29 originally from Tyneside journeyed
2 days from Canada to join the Medjugorje North East Pilgrims at Dubrovnik
Airport
I went to
Medjugorje with no presumptions or expectations, I did not go in search of
wonders, miracles, renewed Faith or religious obligation, but to visit the
place my Mum holds close to her heart and to share the experience with her. I
wanted to understand why from 1989 she has kept returning to this little
known village and why she loved Medjugorje, so that I could take that
memory forward with me into my future. What I gained from Medjugorje was
unexpected....friendship, patience, forgiveness, acceptance, peace, love,
gratitude, connection, renewal, faith. (I could go on)
Over
10,000 people descended on Medjugorje for Mirjana's
Apparition on June 2nd. The tiny
village was over taken with pilgrims who wanted to support and share the
Visionary's experience.
Many people question apparitions as they are
difficult to comprehend in human thinking but in Medjugorje I
felt surrounded with a tangible energy of Love and Peace which helped
me believe in the Message of Our Lady of Medjugorje........ There is
no denying it, it is a special place that changes the lives of those who
come to pay homage to Our Lady.
The
1st day was a little overwhelming. I
hadn't been to church to receive communion in about 10 years and at the sign of
Peace, I responded 'Hi' to my neighbour! Also, the liturgy had changed and I
had forgotten a lot of it. My Mum and fellow pilgrims helped me through,
supported me and guided me, didn't judge me or try and push me out of my
comfort zone. I was there, that was the main thing. They shared openly and
fervently their personal experiences.
I
was grateful to the Priests who accompanied us, Fr John Cooper and Fr Martin
Morris who were sensitive, knowledgeable and discreet. Fr. Cooper was like an
angel on my right shoulder offering meaningful parables and experiences. Fr
Martin, our Spiritual Director, a fitting title as he helped guide our spirits
throughout the pilgrimage. It was significant that the two Priests
accompanied the group, it made the pilgrimage real, legitimate, more viable.
Reminiscing,
there were key moments of realisation, something awakening in my heart.
The
first day we hiked Podbrdo (Apparition Hill) and
prayed the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary (I listened rather than prayed). At
the Fifth mystery ‘Finding Jesus in the Temple’ my senses became
heightened and looking out over Medjugorje and Bijakovici,
I felt the wind blowing, I heard the birds singing and I saw the seeds of
the dandelions dance in the breeze. At that moment I became totally aware of
the beauty of nature and creation. ....’Go
into Nature...there you will meet God the Creator.'(1) The Priest's words
touched me and the voices began to sing Ave Maria.
A
day or so later we hiked up Mt Krizevac (Cross
Mountain) to pray the Stations of the Cross.
The
beautiful Bronze Plaques that make up ‘The Way of the Cross’ are the works of
the Florence artist Carmelo Puzzolo. Again, I listened to each Station and the
prayers of the group, read from Fr Slavko's book ‘The
Way of the Cross’.
Each
Station followed by a bible text and meditation was read by Fr Martin and Fr
Cooper with such feeling, respect and remorse and evoked heartrending images.
We
arrived at 6th Station, ‘Veronica Wipes
the Face of Jesus’; the compassion and love of Veronica amongst all that
hate brought tears to my eyes. Moving on to the next 7th
station ‘Jesus falls for the Second Time’. The following lines pierced
my heart: Jesus falls…’embracing the rocks which are softer
than the hearts of the people who are torturing you.... Jesus, I am ashamed to
say this...Thank you for all the suffering you accepted for us.'(2)
Suddenly
at that moment I felt ashamed that I had been so apathetic and ignorant to the
terrible suffering that Jesus went through for us... and I had never said THANK
YOU.
When
we reached the last station ‘Jesus is Risen’, the
wind picked up again and brought with it a butterfly who rested nearby, the
voices started to sing 'He is Lord, he is risen from the dead and he is Lord'.
It was so beautiful. My heart pounded, the song brought back memories... I used
to know this, this was a part of my life and hasn't been for so long. I had
missed it, without even realising. And all the time Our Lady's words, 'Thank
you for having responded to my call’ felt like they were meant for me.
At
the top of the Mountain it was busy and noisy with the hundreds of Pilgrims, it
was as if someone had turned up the volume after such a peaceful ascent. I
found a quiet spot where the wind took the voices of those around me away. I
looked down over St James' where my Mum was and I sent kisses on the wind to
her (3) and to my husband in Canada.
I
thought about my life; everything conspires and leads you to that moment in
time, I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now.
I
didn't carry a stone up with me to leave at the foot of the Cross on the summit
(a symbol of leaving ones troubles and remorse with Jesus) there was no need,
the wind took mine from me. I descended feeling contentment, acceptance
of myself and those around me and refreshed.
Later
it was wonderful to hear the testimony of Jakov the
visionary, he spoke with humility, truth and wisdom.
Fr
Marinko Sakota, Parish
Priest of Medjugorje spoke after Jakov. He affirmed
that 'Our Lady says nothing new, but reminds us of what we have forgotten, she
is waking us up from our
dream...Medjugorje is waking up from the dream... a call to return, a call to
change...' . 'When you start getting to know Jesus, then you start to know
yourself, correcting yourself'. Fr Marinko expressed
how we can focus too much on the negative, weaknesses and mistakes of others,
consistently wanting others to change, but it is us that needs to change
first.
Celebrating
the uniqueness of each person was an emphatic message for me, accepting,
embracing our 'cross'. Saying 'I choose you'. 'Help us to respect the
uniqueness of each person...' (5)
Love and acceptance brings inner peace. Our Lady invites us to be new,
be open and become a new person. I left Medjugorje a different person, aware of
what I needed to work on to help bring peace in my life.
During
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament I was always drawn to The Sculpture of The
Risen Christ and The Stations of The Cross asking myself—
'What was
my personal cross'??
On the last evening I remained in the presence of The Blessed Sacrament
and I seemed to reflect more deeply, suddenly
it hit me; upon this realisation, I offered it up and tears flowed freely, they
were pure, peaceful tears. .... ‘The Gift of tears is the greatest gift that
we can expect from the Holy Spirit' (4). I thanked God for bringing me to
Medjugorje, to this beautiful place, for being able to share the experience
with my Mum, for the new friends I had made and for the peace I had received.
Then I drifted to sleep under the aura of love and God's grace.
My
experience in Medjugorje was unexpected and enlightening, it brought me closer
to Jesus, Mary, my Faith and ultimately God – not that I was intending this to
happen. Since returning to Canada, I have wanted to attend Mass, I have wanted
to Pray and most importantly give thanks for.... everything.
I
see the church, my religion, my faith in a new light, not rules and
regulations, long and complicated bible texts that seemed to have no relevance
to me and modern life. But compassionate, forgiving, accepting, guiding;
messages and parables that make sense, that connect with me – it was as if a
light had gone on in my head and everything clicked. Church is peace, peace is
prayer, contemplation.
I
would recommend a Pilgrimage to Medjugorje, not in search of sensations or
miracles but to experience the peace and love filled atmosphere emanating from
the thousands of people gathered in prayer.
I
will never forget the joy filled ‘Humanitarian Concert’ to raise money for the
Victims of the Flood Areas of Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina with the groups of
Irish pilgrims dancing outside to the music around St. James Church and also
the echoes of singing ‘Our Lady of Knock’ in the Cafés and Restaurants until
the early hours. (Oh yes!! there are
enough cafés and restaurants to enjoy)
No
matter what your views of the Apparitions, or negative comments received from
others, please don't be influenced and let it STOP you going to Medjugorje; as
Pope John Paul II said 'Medjugorje? Medjugorje? Medjugorje? Only good things
are happening at Medjugorje'. (6)
1) Our Lady's message, October 25th 1995
2) The Way of the Cross, Fr Slavko Barbaric. Pg 43
3) The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
4) Medjugorje North
East Newsletter June 2014, report from Sister Emmanuel of The Community of The
Beatitudes, (www.childrenofmedjugorje.com)
5) The Rosary, Aid to the Church in Need, text by Fr. Joaquin Alliende-Luco, pg 22:22 from the
Fifth Joyful Mystery, 'Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, Prayer
6) Our lady's call
from Medjugorje, Mirjana Stanislava Vasilj-Zuccarini, Pg 294 from Archbishop Harry J. Flynn