Pilgrims Swarm Medjugorje Mission House

 

After a very active summer in Medjugorje, new groups of pilgrims begin to swarm into Medjugorje as summer turns to fall. Here seen below are Croatian pilgrims at the Caritas Mission House, Saturday, September 11. They come looking mostly for Kako Izmijeniti Muža, the Croatian translation of How to Change Your Husband, by A Friend of Medjugorje, but they are attracted to all of his writings which offer Croatians, who have grown up with Medjugorje, a new perspective on Our Lady's messages.

A Friend of Medjugorje's writings are sought out by many of the local people because of their direct simplicity. The writings are direct with no 'sugar-coating', and they are written simply, so that all can understand. These attributes, which are common to the Croatian culture, are therefore appreciated by the Croatian people.

Croatian pilgrims visiting for the feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross, browse the free materials in the Caritas Mission House in Medjugorje, seeking direction from Our Lady's messages. Seen to the right is the statue of Our Lady. On several occasions Our Lady appeared to Marija, one of the six visionaries of Medjugorje, where this statue stands. It has been stated many times that the Mission House is a special place. How can it not be, with the grace of not only Our Lady's words in the materials, but in the grace of Her presence as well?

Saint Michael, seen in the background, is a landmark in Medjugorje. The Statue, which sits outside the Caritas Mission House, marks the location of the Mission House which has become known as 'The Message Place.' This is the place where one goes to get Our Lady's latest message, and where one goes to get direction through the material inside. The writings are not abstract philosophical thoughts, but rather real life, the real life of Our Lady's messages, and what She has taught A Friend of Medjugorje, and in how the Community of Caritas lives. Life, real life, for real people, in everyday situations. They reveal the beauty of the messages of Our Lady that transforms life.

The Gosepl of John tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." What will remain throughout the ages is the written word. As pilgrims come into the Caritas Mission House, also known as 'The Message Place', they find free materials that are provided by special supporters of the Mission House and our Field Angels. They include books, booklets, prayer cards, postcards, cd's, all containing Our Lady's messages, and Her direction for our troubled times. These materials go back with the pilgrims to their homes all over the world, where they give direction through the messages, not only for today, but for those who come after us, speaking to us of the love that God has shown to us through sending Our Lady.

Jesus told His disciples, "Be as simple as doves, and as clever as serpents." How much more simple and clever can one get, than by sending a postcard from Medjugorje to a loved one back home, and in which contains not only a picture of a Holy site in Medjugorje, but a teaching about Our Lady and Her messages? This is part of the inculturalization of Our Lady's messages into your life, that even a somewhat non-religious item such as a postcard, becomes a tool of conversion for your family back home. It can be also argued that the grace of Medjugorje goes with the postcard, bringing the possibility for conversion throughout the world. While it may not be the family member who is touched by the teaching, it may be the person delivering the mail. One can never know the ways in which God may use to speak to a soul.