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June 19, 1996

How can we be light? It's a difficult question! What is light? That's another difficult question! Our Blessed Mother pushes us to try to answer this question.

Jesus Christ in His parable about the Pharisee and the Tax-collector shows us how we as Christians should behave. Like the Pharisee, we too can keep all the laws and abide by all the rules, and still not be pleasing in His sight. Or we can sin just like the Tax-collector and still please Him. So, is the conclusion then that it's always better to sin? Of course not! The Tax-collector was pleasing to God because through him, light was able to shine: even though he made mistakes, he sincerely repented and did his best. The Pharisee on the other hand, dimmed out the light, convinced of his own innocence.

We are the light of the world. God created us to be light. But whose fault is it if the light is not seen? Surely we cannot blame it on God. If he didn't intend us to be light, He wouldn't have created us this way. Many await that we become conscious of our being light. How long will we make them wait?

THE VISIONARIED TODAY - on the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions

On the 25th of June we will celebrate fifteen years of Our Blessed Mother's apparitions here at the sanctuary of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, Medjugorje. Up to the present, about twenty million people have visited the shrine, and on returning home to their parishes, have become messengers of Our Lady's messages,each one bringing them to their families, parishes and all walks of humanity.

But the first messengers who testified to Our Lady's presence were the Medjugorje visionaries: According to the testimony of these six young parishioners, Our Lady has appeared to them every day since the 24th of June 1981. On that day the visionaries were frightened by her call and fled. The following day, on the 25th of June, they answered her invitation and climbed the hill of Podbrdo, where for the first time they spoke and prayed with her. That is why we celebrate this day as the anniversary of the apparitions of the Queen of Peace, as she chooses to call herself.

Here we are presenting some details about them.

Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez was born in 1966. She had daily apparitions from the 24th of June 1981 until the 7th of May 1985. On that day she received the last of her ten secrets and Our Lady told her that she would appear to her annually on the anniversary, until the end of her life. Until now it has been so. Ivanka lives in the parish of Medjugorje, She is married and has three children.

Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo was born in 1965. She had daily apparitions from the 24th of June 1981 until 25th of December 1982. On the last day of her apparitions Our Lady told her that throughout her life she would have annual apparitions on her birthday: (March 18th)

Since the 2nd of August 1987 on the second of every month she hears the voice of the Blessed Mother within her and sometimes during this, she can even see her. Our Ladys prayer with Mirjana is always for the "unbelieving". Our Lady has given Mirjana ten secrets. Mirjana lives in the parish of Medjugorje. She is married and has two children.

Vicka Ivankovic was born in 1964. Our Lady appeared to her for the first time on June 24th 1981 and her daily apparitions still continue. Our Lady has given Vicka nine secrets. Vicka lives in her parents home in the parish of Medjugorje.

Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti was born in 1965. Our Lady first appeared to her on June 25th. Maria continues to have daily apparitions. Through her Our Lady gives a message to the parish, and through the parish to the rest of the world on the 25th of every month. Up until now Our Lady has given her nine secrets. Maria at the moment lives in Italy. She is married and has two children.

Ivan Dragicevic was born in 1965. Our Lady has been appearing to him every day since June 24th 1981 up to the present day. Ian has nine secrets. He lives in Medjugorje, is married and has one child.

Jakov Colo was born in 1971. He has daily apparitions since 25th of June 1981 up to the present day. Our Lady has entrusted him with nine secrets. Jakov lives in the parish of Medjugorje. He is married and has one child.

A MILITARY PILGRIMMAGE

The first of June saw the third of the "soldier pilgrimmages". This year it had an international flavour because it included not only members of the Croatian army, but members of the IFOR peace keeping forces too.

After a ceremonious entrance into the shrine, the soldiers prepared for confession and about five hundred of them availed of the sacrament of reconciliation. After celerating the Eucharist together, they departed from the church in procession, praying the rosary on their way to climb Apparition hill. On their return to the Church before the solemn blessing, they lit a votive candle. It was an interesting experience, especially for the foreign pilgrims visiting Medjugorje at that time.!

The Centre "Mir-Peace", P.O. Box 105 Clarks Summit, PA 18411 U.S.A.; fax 71 75866051; was started in 1983. It was started by the Sarcevic family for the spreading of Our Lady's messages. During all these years the centre has involved itself in various activities. Being of Croatian origin the family lent themselves to translating messages, and numerous other booklets and publications. They distribute audio and video cassettes, and organize pilgrimmages to Medjugorje being able to give additional focus on the history, culture and faith of the Croatian people. (Up to the present they have organized about 100 pilgrimmages!) They have a continual commitment to prayer meetings once a week. During the war their prayers were always offered up for peace in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. The centre also organized collection and distribution of hmanitarian help especially for those children orphaned during the war and for all the families who are now without the father figure.

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Last Modified 06/19/96