|
DICASTERY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
“The Queen of Peace”:
Note About the Spiritual Experience Connected
with Medjugorje
Foreword
1. The time has come to conclude a long and
complex history that has surrounded the
spiritual phenomena of Medjugorje. It is a
history in which bishops, theologians,
commissions, and analysts have expressed a
series of divergent opinions.
The conclusions expressed in this Note are
presented in the context of what was established
in the new Norms for Proceeding in the
Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena
(Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, 17 May
2024; henceforth, “Norms”). Consequently, the
perspective of this analysis is quite different
from that which was used in earlier studies.
It is important to clarify from the outset that
the conclusions of this Note do not imply a
judgment about the moral life of the alleged
visionaries. Additionally, when recognizing an
action of the Spirit for the good of the People
of God “in the midst of” a spiritual experience,
present from its beginnings until now, we should
remember that the charismatic gifts (gratiae
gratis datae) that may be connected to that
experience do not necessarily require those
involved to have moral perfection.
2. Although we find many positive elements that
help to heed the call of the Gospel when we
consider the overall set of messages tied to
this spiritual experience, some people believe
that certain messages contain contradictions or
are connected with the desires or interests of
the alleged visionaries or others. It cannot be
ruled out that this may have happened in the
case of a few messages. This reminds us that the
Norms of this Dicastery state that such
phenomena “at times appear connected to confused
human experiences, theologically inaccurate
expressions, or interests that are not entirely
legitimate” (Norms, par. 14). This does not
exclude the possibility of “some error of a
natural order […] not due to bad intentions, but
to the subjective perception of the phenomenon”
(ibid., art. 15, 2°). As an example of this
imprecise and ultimately theologically incorrect
mystical language, among the messages connected
to Medjugorje (cf. Raccolta completa dei
messaggi della Regina della Pace. «Vi supplico:
convertitevi!» [Camerata Picena, Italy, 2024];
in some cases, the translation was improved by
comparing it with the original texts), we can
mention the isolated expression, “my Son, one
and triune, loves you” (2 November 2017). It is
not unusual for mystical texts that intend to
express the presence of the whole Trinity in the
mystery of the Incarnate Word to use an
unsuitable expression such as this. In this
case, the text should be understood to say that
in the Son made man, the love of the Triune God
is manifested (cf. Dicastery for the Doctrine of
the Faith, “‘Trinity Mercy’: Letter to the
Bishop of Como on the Spiritual Experience
Connected with the Sanctuary of Maccio (Villa
Guardia)”, 15 July 2024). In addition, the
reader should be aware that whenever this Note
refers to “messages” from Our Lady, it always
intends this to mean “alleged messages.”
To discern events related to Medjugorje, we are
fundamentally considering the existence of
clearly verified fruits, together with an
analysis of the alleged Marian messages.
The Fruits
3. An immediate effect surrounding the phenomena
associated with Medjugorje has been the large
and growing number of devotees worldwide,
together with the many people who make a
pilgrimage there from the most varied places.
The positive fruits are most evident in the
promotion of a healthy practice of a life of
faith, in accordance with the tradition of the
Church. In the context of Medjugorje, this
applies both to those who had been previously
distant from the faith as well as to those who
had practiced the faith only superficially. The
uniqueness of the place lies in the large number
of such fruits: abundant conversions, a frequent
return to the sacraments (particularly, the
Eucharist and Reconciliation), many vocations to
priestly, religious, and married life, a
deepening of the life of faith, a more intense
practice of prayer, many reconciliations between
spouses, and the renewal of marriage and family
life. It should be noted that such experiences
occur above all in the context of pilgrimages to
the places associated with the original events
rather than in meetings with the “visionaries”
to be present for the alleged apparitions.
4. The intense daily pastoral work in the parish
of Medjugorje has increased due to the
“Medjugorje phenomenon”. In that parish, we can
observe the daily recitation of various parts of
the Rosary, the celebration of the Holy Mass
(with many liturgies, also on weekdays),
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and numerous
confessions. Outside the parish church there are
two Stations of the Cross, a large hall for
catechesis, and a small chapel for adoration. In
addition to the regular sacramental and
spiritual life, Medjugorje also hosts various
ordinary pastoral activities, such as annual
seminars of different kinds, a Youth Festival,
and spiritual retreats held for priests, married
couples, pilgrimage organizers, peace center
directors, and prayer group leaders.
Moreover, for decades, the parish of Medjugorje
has continued to be a major pilgrimage
destination. Unlike other sites linked to
apparitions, people seem to visit Medjugorje
mainly to renew their faith rather than to seek
help with specific requests. Notably, groups of
Orthodox Christians and Muslims also visit the
shrine.
5. Many people have discovered their vocation to
the priesthood or consecrated life in the
context of the “Medjugorje phenomenon.” The
stories of these people are quite different, yet
they converge in the same spiritual experience
of feeling called to follow Jesus in this way.
Some individuals went to Medjugorje to discover
God’s will in their lives, others went just out
of curiosity, and still others went with no
faith at all. Several people reported receiving
the grace of a vocation, with a strong desire to
give themselves entirely to God while they were
on the mountain where the alleged apparitions
occurred; others experienced this call while
they were in adoration before the Blessed
Sacrament.
For many people, life changed after they
accepted the spirituality of Medjugorje
(messages, prayer, fasting, adoration, Holy
Mass, confession, etc.) in their daily lives,
leading them to pursue a call to the priesthood
or religious life. Some feel they received in
Medjugorje the decisive confirmation of a
vocation that had been maturing already for a
long time. There are also many cases where
individuals discovered a particular vocation
that, while occurring outside Medjugorje itself,
nevertheless took place within groups inspired
by its spirituality or by reading books related
to this experience.
Moreover, there is no shortage of genuine
conversions of people who had been far from God
and the Church and who moved from a life marked
by sin to adopt radical existential changes
oriented toward the Gospel. Numerous healings
have also been reported in connection with
Medjugorje.
So many others have discovered the beauty of
being Christians through Medjugorje. For many,
it became a place chosen by God to renew their
faith; thus, some experience it as a new
starting point for their spiritual journey. In
many cases, people were able to overcome a
spiritual crisis thanks to Medjugorje. Others
report a desire awakened in the context of
Medjugorje to give themselves deeply to the
service of God in obedience to the Church, or to
give themselves with greater commitment to the
life of faith in their home parish. Meanwhile,
in many nations worldwide, a great number of
Marian devotional and prayer groups have emerged
that are inspired by the spiritual experience of
Medjugorje. Works of charity have also arisen in
connection with various communities and
associations, particularly those that care for
orphans, drug addicts, alcoholics, children
facing various difficulties, and people with
disabilities.
Particularly notable is the presence of many
young people, young couples, and adults who
rediscover the Christian faith in Medjugorje
through Our Lady, with an experience that
directs them to Christ in the Church. A witness
to the strong presence of young people in
Medjugorje is the annual Youth Festival.
Beyond these particular fruits, Medjugorje is
perceived as a space of great peace,
recollection, and a piety that is sincere, deep,
and easily shared.
In conclusion, the positive fruits linked to
this spiritual experience are evident and, over
time, they have become distinct from the
experience of the alleged visionaries, who are
no longer seen as the central mediators of the
“Medjugorje phenomenon.” In the midst of this
phenomenon, the Holy Spirit is carrying out many
beautiful and positive things.
Central Aspects of the Messages
The Queen of Peace
6. While the Gospa [i.e., Lady] most frequently
ascribes to herself the name “Mother”, according
to various expressions (Mother of the Church, of
God, of the righteous, of the saints, etc.), the
most original title in the messages is that of
“Queen of Peace” (cf. Message of 16 June 1983).
This title offers a vision that is theocentric
and very rich in the true meaning of peace.
According to this understanding, peace signifies
not only the absence of war; it also has a
spiritual, family, and social meaning. Indeed,
this peace is achieved primarily through prayer,
but it is also spread through missionary
efforts. One of the prevailing characteristics
of the spirituality that emerges from the
messages is that of trust in God through a total
trust in Mary, in order to become instruments of
peace in the world. The messages about this
theme are quite numerous, some of which we will
quote here:
“Dear children, I came to you and introduced
myself as the Queen of Peace because my Son sent
me. I desire, dear children, to help you: to
help you so that peace may come” (10 August
2012).
“Peace. Peace. Peace! Be reconciled! Be
reconciled with God and among yourselves” (26
June 1981).
“Dear children, without prayer, there is no
peace. Therefore, I urge you, dear children, to
pray at the foot of the Cross for peace” (6
September 1984).
“I call upon you all to pray responsibly for
peace. Pray, dear children, for peace to reign
in the world, for peace to reign in the hearts
of men and in the hearts of my children.
Therefore, be my bearers of peace in this
restless world. Be my living sign: a sign of
peace” (5 August 2013).
“Dear children, I call upon all of you who have
heard my message of peace to implement it in
your lives with seriousness and with love. There
are many who think they are doing a lot by
talking about the messages, but they do not live
them. Dear children, I call you to life and to
change all that is negative in you, so that
everything may become positive and life-giving”
(25 May 1991).
“You err when you look to the future, thinking
only of wars, punishments, and evil. If you
always think of evil, you are already putting
yourself on the road to meet it. For the
Christian, there is only one attitude toward the
future: the hope of salvation. Your task is to
accept God’s peace, to live it, and to spread
it” (10 June 1982).
“Today’s world lives amid high tensions and
walks on the brink of a catastrophe. It can only
be saved if it finds peace. But it can only have
peace by returning to God” (15 February 1983).
“I have presented myself here as the Queen of
Peace to tell everyone that peace is necessary
for the salvation of the world. Only in God can
you find true joy, which is the source of true
peace. Therefore, I ask for conversion” (16 June
1983).
“Carry peace in your hearts. Nurture it like a
flower that needs water, tenderness, and light”
(25 February 2003).
The Peace That Flows from Love
7. This peace is not an end in itself, nor does
it express the highest Christian value. Rather,
it is the fruit of love that is lived, which is
the greatest and most beautiful virtue. It is
the love that surrenders itself to God’s love
and expresses itself in the fraternal love that
avoids quarrels, does not judge, and forgives:
“Love one another. Be brothers and sisters to
one another and avoid all quarrels” (25 December
1981). “Dear children, also today I want to call
upon you to forgive. Forgive, my children!
Forgive others, forgive yourselves” (13 March
2010). “Dear children, this is the time of
thanksgiving. Today, from you, I seek love. Do
not look for mistakes and errors in others, and
do not judge them” (4 May 2020).
This love, which enables us to bring peace to
the world, also implies a love for those who are
not Catholic. Indeed, this is not to propose
syncretism or to say that “all religions are
equal before God.” Yet still, all people are
loved. This is a point best understood in the
ecumenical and interreligious context of Bosnia
and Herzegovina, which has been marked by a
terrible war with strong religious components:
“On earth, you are divided, but you are all my
children. Muslims, Orthodox, Catholics, all of
you are equal before my Son and me. You are all
my children. This does not mean that all
religions are equal before God, but people are.
It is not enough, however, to belong to the
Catholic Church to be saved: one must respect
God’s will [...]. To whom little has been given,
little will be asked” (20 May 1982). “You are
not true Christians if you do not respect your
brothers and sisters who belong to other
religions” (21 February 1983). However, there is
also a reminder of the need to “preserve the
Catholic faith at all costs, for you and for
your children” (19 February 1984).
The King of Peace
8. The title “Queen of Peace” corresponds to the
title “King of Peace”, which is attributed to
Jesus:
“I call on you, dear children, so that your life
may be united with him. Jesus is the King of
Peace, and only he can give you the peace that
you seek. I am with you, and I present you to
Jesus” (25 December 1995). “In my hands, I have
little Jesus, the King of Peace” (25 December
2002). “With great joy, I bring you the King of
Peace, that he may bless you with his blessing”
(25 December 2007).
Only God
9. The messages offer a strongly theocentric
view of the spiritual life and frequently call
upon us to make a trusting surrender to God, who
is love:
“Dear children, today I call upon you to
surrender entirely to God. Give everything you
do and everything you possess over to God so
that he may reign in your life as King of
everything. Do not be afraid!” (25 July 1988).
“Dear children, today I call upon you to live
the following words this week: ‘I love God!’
Dear children, with love, you will achieve
everything, even what you consider to be
impossible” (28 February 1985).
“Dear children, I call upon you to a total
surrender to God. Let everything you possess be
in the hands of God. Only in this way will you
have joy in your hearts. My children, rejoice in
all that you have. Give thanks to God because
everything is God’s gift to you. Thus, you will
be able in life to give thanks for everything
and discover God in everything, even in the
smallest flower” (25 April 1989).
10. In light of everything above, we can see a
nucleus of messages in which Our Lady does not
place herself at the center but shows herself to
be fully directed toward our union with God:
“Behold, for this I am with you: to teach you
and bring you closer to the Love of God” (25 May
1999).
“I call you first to love God, the Creator of
your life; then you will recognize and love God
in everyone” (25 November 1992).
“I am with you and intercede before God for each
of you so that your hearts may be opened to God
and God’s love” (25 March 2000).
“I call upon you all to grow in God’s love, like
a flower that feels the warm rays of spring” (25
April 2008).
“Do not waver in your faith and do not ask
‘why’, thinking that you are alone and
abandoned. Instead, open your hearts, pray, and
believe firmly. Then your hearts will feel God’s
closeness and that God never abandons you—that
he is always beside you” (25 December 2019).
11. For this reason, Mary invites the listener
to encounter God, who is always present in daily
life:
“You seek signs and messages and do not see
that, with every morning sunrise, God calls upon
you to convert and return to the path of truth
and salvation” (25 September 1998). “May the
wheat fields speak to you of God’s mercy toward
every creature” (25 August 1999). “God wants to
save you, and so he sends you messages through
people, through nature, and through many other
things that can help you understand that you
must change the direction of your life” (25
March 1990).
Christocentrism
12. The intercession and work of Mary are shown
to be clearly subordinate to Jesus Christ, the
author of grace and salvation for every person:
“In a special way, my children, I would like to
bring you closer to the Heart of Jesus.
Therefore, my children, today I call you to
prayer addressed to my dear Son Jesus, that all
your hearts may be his” (25 October 1988). “Do
not let the light of the world seduce you. Open
yourselves to the light of Divine Love, to the
Love of my Son. Decide for him; he is Love and
he is Truth” (2 May 2016). “Today I call upon
you, dear children, because you have turned away
from Jesus—because you have put him in the
background and overlooked him. Therefore, I call
upon you to decide for him and to put Jesus
first in your life” (24 April 2017). “I wish to
renew you and lead you with my heart to the
Heart of Jesus, who still suffers for you and
calls you to conversion” (25 October 1996).
“Only if you draw close to Jesus will you
understand the immeasurable love he has for each
of you” (25 February 1998). “I call you to allow
your hearts to be inflamed ever more ardently
with love for the Crucified, and do not forget
that he gave his life out of love for you, so
that you might be saved” (25 September 2007).
13. Mary intercedes, but it is Christ who gives
the strength. Therefore, her whole maternal work
consists in motivating us to turn to Christ:
“He will give you strength and joy in this time.
I am close to you with my intercession” (25
November 1993). “My hands offer you my Son, who
is the source of pure water. He will revive your
faith and purify your hearts” (2 October 2014).
“Open your hearts and surrender your lives to
Jesus, so that he may work through your hearts
and strengthen you in faith” (23 May 1985).
Mary speaks humbly about her own words in
comparison with the Eternal Word, whose words of
life are effective in transforming us: “Dear
children, I speak to you as Mother, with simple
words [...]. My Son, on the other hand, who
comes from the Eternal Present, he speaks to you
with words of life and sows love in hearts that
are open” (2 October 2017).
The Action of the Holy Spirit
14. Many messages call upon us to recognize the
importance of asking for the help of the Holy
Spirit:
“People are wrong when they turn solely to the
saints to ask for something. The important thing
is to pray to the Holy Spirit to descend upon
you. When you have him, you have everything” (21
October 1983).
“Start by invoking the Holy Spirit every day.
The most important thing is to pray to the Holy
Spirit. For, everything is transformed and
becomes clear when the Holy Spirit descends upon
you” (25 November 1983).
“Before the Mass, it is necessary to pray to the
Holy Spirit. Prayers to the Holy Spirit should
always accompany the Mass” (26 November 1983).
“People pray in the wrong way. They go to
churches and shrines to ask for some material
benefit. Very few, however, ask for the gift of
the Holy Spirit. The most important thing for
you to do is just to beg for the Holy Spirit to
descend because if you have the gift of the Holy
Spirit, you have everything” (29 December 1983).
The Call to Conversion
15. A constant call to abandon a worldly
lifestyle and excessive attachment to worldly
goods appears in the messages, along with
frequent calls for conversion, which makes true
peace in the world possible. Conversion seems to
be the focus of the Gospa’s message: “Dear
children! Today I call you to conversion. This
is the most important message I have given you
here” (25 February 1996).
“My heart is burning with love for you. The only
word I want to say to the world is this:
conversion, conversion. Make it known to all my
children; I only ask for conversion” (25 April
1983).
“Dear children, today I wish to wrap you with my
mantle and lead all of you toward the way of
conversion. Dear children, please give the Lord
all of your past, all of the evil that has
accumulated in your hearts” (25 February 1987).
“You cannot say that you are converted because
your life must become a daily conversion” (25
February 1993).
“Awaken from your soul’s weary slumber and say
to God with all your strength, ‘Yes.’ Decide for
conversion and holiness” (25 March 2001).
“Convert, my children, and kneel down in the
silence of your heart. Put God at the center of
your being” (25 May 2001).
“Dear children, also today, with great joy in my
heart, I call you to conversion [...]. God
desires to convert the entire world; he desires
to call it to salvation and to the way to him,
who is the beginning and the end of every being”
(25 June 2007).
The Heavy Burden of Evil and Sin
16. At the same time, there is an insistent
exhortation not to underestimate the gravity of
evil and sin, and to take very seriously God’s
call to fight against evil and the influence of
Satan. Another frequent appeal is not to be
frightened in the face of trials. Occasionally,
it is announced that the present moment is a
time of grace and a time of trial. Sometimes the
latter element is expressed in very strong
terms—as is the case, for example, when it is
said that there is despair everywhere, that
everything collapses, and so forth, and that
these things are connected above all to the fact
that many people lack faith and are distant from
God. From this arises the call to offer to God
all one’s suffering and difficulties so that
they may bear the fruits of grace and inner
consolation:
“I do not weep only because Jesus died, but
because Jesus died giving his blood to the last
drop for all people, yet many of my children do
not want to derive any benefit from this” (1
April 1983).
“Look around you, dear children, and you will
see how great is the sin that dominates this
earth. So, pray that Jesus triumphs” (13
September 1984).
“Dear children, you know that I promised you an
oasis of peace. But know that next to the oasis,
there is the desert where Satan is lurking and
trying to tempt each of you. Dear children, only
through prayer can you overcome every influence
of Satan in the place where you live. I am with
you, but I cannot deprive you of your freedom”
(7 August 1986).
“Wherever I go and where my Son is also with me,
there Satan also joins. You have allowed him,
without realizing it, to take over in you, to
dominate you [...]. Do not give in, my children!
Wipe from my face the tears I shed seeing what
you do. Look around you! Find time to approach
God in the Church. Come into your Father’s
house. Find time to gather as a family and plead
for God’s grace. [...] Do not look with scorn on
the poor man begging you for a morsel of bread.
Do not send him away from your full table. Help
him! And God will also help you [...]. You, my
children, have forgotten all these things, and
Satan has also contributed to this. Do not give
in! [...] I do not want to reproach you further;
instead, I want to call you once again to
prayer, fasting, and penance” (28 January 1987).
“Dear children, in a special way, I now call you
all to prayer and renunciation. For, now as
never before, Satan desires to seduce as many
people as possible to the path of death and sin.
Therefore, dear children, help my Immaculate
Heart to triumph in a world of sin” (25
September 1991).
“Do not allow Satan to pull you around and do
with you what he wants. I call on you to become
responsible and determined, and to consecrate
every day to God” (25 January 1998).
“Now, as never before, Satan wants to suffocate
man and his soul with his contagious wind of
hatred and unrest. In so many hearts, there is
no joy because there is no God and no prayer.
Hatred and war are growing day by day. I am
calling you, my children, to begin anew, with
enthusiasm, the path of holiness and love
because I have come among you for this.
Together, let us be love and forgiveness for all
those who know and want to love only with human
love and not with that immense love of God” (25
January 2015).
17. Our Lady points out an opportunity to end
the war, but it requires the cooperation of
Christians in giving the gift of their lives.
This implies a strong call to responsibility:
“You talk, but do not live. That is why, my
children, this war is lasting so long. I call
upon you to open yourselves to God and to live
with God in your hearts [...]. Dear children, I
cannot help you if you do not live God’s
commandments, if you do not live the Mass, and
if you do not reject sin” (25 October 1993).
Nonetheless, four months later, gratitude is
expressed by emphasizing the value of believers’
cooperation: “All of you have helped me so that
this war may end as soon as possible” (25
February 1994). The importance of believers’
cooperation also appears in other contexts: “You
all, with your lives and your example, must
cooperate in the work of salvation” (25 May
1996).
Prayer
18. In this journey, prayer is fundamental. The
exhortation to pray is both constant and
insistent in the messages:
“I call on you once again to decide for prayer
because, with prayer, you will be able to
experience conversion. Each of you will become,
in simplicity, similar to a child who is open to
the Father’s love” (25 July 1996).
“I call on you to fill your day with short,
ardent prayers. When you pray, your heart is
open, and God loves you with a special love and
gives you special graces. Therefore, make good
use of this time of grace and dedicate it to God
as never before” (25 July 2005).
19. Along with prayer, the call to fast appears
frequently, but it is explained as a freely
given offering in addition to sacrifices of a
physical nature: “If you are in distress or in
need, come to me. If you do not have the
strength to fast on bread and water, you can
give up other things. Besides food, it would be
good to give up television because after
watching television programs, you are distracted
and cannot pray. You could also give up alcohol,
cigarettes, and other pleasures. You yourselves
know what you must do” (8 December 1981).
The Centrality of the Mass
20. For the faithful, prayer finds its
culmination in the celebration of the Eucharist:
“The Mass is the highest form of prayer. You
will never be able to understand its greatness”
(13 January 1984). “Dear children, also today,
in a special way, I wish to call you to the
Eucharist. May the Mass be the center of your
lives! In particular, dear children, may the
Eucharist be in your families. The family must
go to Holy Mass and celebrate Jesus. Jesus must
be the center of your lives!” (15 June 2018).
“May Holy Mass not be a habit for you, but life.
By living the Holy Mass every day, you will feel
the need for holiness” (25 January 1998). “Do
not forget that in the Eucharist, which is the
heart of the faith, my Son is always with you.
He comes to you and breaks bread with you;
because, my children, it was for your sake that
he died, rose again, and comes anew” (2 May
2016).
21. The following message underscores the minor
value of the apparitions themselves when
compared with the immense spiritual treasure
that is the Eucharist:
“I am closer to you during the Mass than during
an apparition. Many pilgrims would like to be
present in the small room of the apparitions,
and so they crowd around the rectory. When they
swarm in front of the tabernacle, as they now do
in front of the rectory, then they will have
understood everything; they will have understood
the presence of Jesus, because receiving Holy
Communion is greater than being a visionary” (12
November 1986).
Fraternal Communion
22. The spirituality of Medjugorje is not
individualistic. It is experienced especially in
communal events, such as pilgrimages and prayer
meetings. At the same time, along with prayer,
the messages contain a constant call to
fraternal love—a love that accompanies, gives,
serves, forgives, and is close to the poor:
“This is the only truth, and it is the truth
that my Son left you. You do not need to examine
it much. What is asked of you is to love and to
give” (2 January 2015).
“I call upon you, my children, to see who needs
your spiritual or material help. By your
example, my children, you will be the
outstretched hands of God, which humanity is
seeking” (25 February 1997).
“Then choose one day of the week and dedicate it
to the poor and the sick: do not forget them”
(23 January 1984).
“Dear children, I urge you to love your neighbor
and, above all, to love the one who brings bad
things upon you. In that way, with love, you
will be able to appreciate the intentions of the
heart. Pray and love, dear children! With love,
you will be able to do even that which seemed
impossible to you” (7 November 1985).
“Dear children, today I am calling you to the
love that is pleasing and dear to God. My
children, love bears everything—everything that
is difficult and bitter—for the sake of Jesus,
who is love. Therefore, dear children, pray that
God come to your aid [...]. In this way, God can
shape your lives and you will grow in love.
Glorify God, my children, with the Hymn to Love
(1 Cor. 13) so that God’s love may grow in you
from day to day to its fullness” (25 June 1988).
“You ask my Son to be merciful to you, but I
call you to mercy. You ask him to be good to you
and to forgive you, but how long have I been
begging you, my children, to forgive and love
all the people you meet!” (2 March 2019).
The communal aspect of Medjugorje also emerges
in the constant emphasis on the fundamental
importance of the family in Christian life:
“Dear children, I beseech you, please begin to
change your family life. Let the family be a
harmonious flower that I wish to give to Jesus.
Dear children, let every family be active in
prayer, for I desire that the fruits in the
family be seen one day. Only thus will I be able
to give them all, like petals, to Jesus for the
fulfillment of God’s plan” (1 May 1986).
23. This spirituality certainly also includes an
ecclesial dimension: one of communion with the
whole Church, with the Pastors, and in
particular, with the Holy Father:
“Carry out your duties well and do what the
Church asks you to do” (2 February 1983). “I am
asking my Son, through love, to grant you unity
through him: unity among yourselves and unity
between you and your pastors. Through them, my
Son always gives himself to you anew and renews
your souls. Do not forget this” (2 August 2014).
“As my children, I ask you: pray very much for
the Church and her ministers, your pastors, that
the Church may be as my Son desires: clear as
spring water and full of love” (2 March 2018).
“Pray for my very beloved Holy Father; pray for
his mission” (17 August 2014).
Joy and Gratitude
24. The spirituality of Medjugorje is joyful,
celebratory, and includes a call to live the joy
of following Christ, giving thanks even for the
small, good things in life:
“Dear children, I call upon you to open
yourselves to God. See, my children, just as
nature opens itself and gives life and fruit, so
I also call on you to live with God and
surrender completely to him. My children, I am
with you, and I want to introduce you
continually to the joy of life. I desire that
each of you may discover the joy and love that
can be found only in God and that only God can
give” (25 May 1989).
“Dear children, I call upon you to give thanks
to God for all the gifts you have discovered
during your life and even for the smallest gift
you have perceived. I give thanks together with
you. And I desire that all of you may experience
the joy of these gifts, and that God may be
everything for each of you” (25 September 1989).
“Pray, little children, so that prayer may
become life for you. In this way, in your lives,
you will discover the peace and joy that God
gives to those whose hearts are open toward his
love” (25 August 2007).
“My children, those who pray feel the freedom of
the children of God and, with a joyful heart,
serve the good of their brothers and sisters
because God is love and freedom. Therefore, my
children, when they want to put chains on you
and use you, it is not from God because God is
love and gives his peace to every creature” (25
October 2021).
“Find peace in nature and you will discover God
the Creator, to whom you can give thanks for all
creatures” (25 July 2001).
“I want each of you to be happy here on earth”
(25 May 1987).
“Dear children! Pray and renew your hearts so
that the good you have sown may bear the fruit
of joy” (25 February 2024).
“I need you to be united with my Son because I
desire you to be happy” (2 May 2015).
The Witness of the Faithful
25. In the messages, we also find pressing calls
to personal witness. Generally, these are calls
to give witness to faith and love in one’s
life—in fact, we can summarize the missionary
message of Medjugorje in that line. In this
regard, in the monthly messages to the parish,
the Gospa often addresses the faithful, calling
them “apostles of my love.”
“Dear children, as Mother, I beg you to
persevere as my apostles [...]. I am praying
that you may witness the love of the Heavenly
Father according to my Son. My children, great
grace has been given to you to be witnesses of
God’s love. Do not take lightly the
responsibility that has been given to you. Do
not grieve my motherly heart. As Mother, I
desire to rely on my children, on my apostles”
(2 November 2012).
“Apostles of my love, my children, be like rays
of the sun that, with the warmth of my Son’s
love, warm everyone around them. My children,
the world needs apostles of love” (2 October
2018).
Particularly beautiful is a message that exhorts
people to give less importance to spectacular
signs and, rather, manifest what they believe
with their lives: “You ask me for a sign so that
my presence may be believed. The sign will come.
But you do not need it: you yourselves must be a
sign for others” (8 February 1982).
Eternal Life
26. In so many messages, there is a strong call
to awaken the desire for heaven and, therefore,
the search for the ultimate meaning of existence
in eternal life:
“Dear children, today I want to call all of you
to decide for Paradise” (25 October 1987). “God
sends me to help you and to lead you to
Paradise, your goal” (25 September 1994). “I
wish to make of you a very beautiful bouquet
prepared for eternity” (25 July 1995). “Without
him, there is no future and no joy, but above
all, there is no eternal salvation” (25 April
1997). “Decide for holiness, my children, and
think of heaven” (25 May 2006). “In your heart,
the desire for heaven will be born. Joy will
begin to reign in your heart” (25 August 2006).
“You are so blind and attached to earthly things
and think of earthly life. God sent me to guide
you toward eternal life” (25 October 2006). “Do
not forget that you are pilgrims on the road to
eternity” (25 November 2006). “Do not forget
that you are passing, like a flower in a field”
(25 January 2007). “Do not forget that you are
pilgrims on this earth” (25 December 2007).
“Everything passes away, my children; only God
remains” (25 March 2008). “I desire, my
children, that each of you fall in love with the
eternal life that is your future” (25 January
2009).
Necessary Clarifications
27. The messages overall possess great value and
express the constant teachings of the Gospel in
different words. However, a few messages stray
from these positive and edifying contents and
even seem to go so far as to contradict them.
As a result, one should be attentive lest
these few confused elements overshadow the
beauty of the whole.
To prevent this treasure of Medjugorje from
being compromised, it is necessary to clarify
some points of possible confusion that can lead
some small groups to distort the valuable
proposition of this spiritual experience,
especially if the messages are read partially.
This leads us to recall a decisive principle:
when one recognizes an action of the Holy Spirit
in the midst of a spiritual experience, it does
not mean that everything belonging to that
experience is thereby free from all
imprecisions, imperfections, and areas of
possible confusion. Once again, one should
remember that these phenomena may “at times
appear connected to confused human experiences,
theologically inaccurate expressions, or
interests that are not entirely legitimate”
(Norms, par. 14). This does not exclude the
possibility of “some error of a natural order,
not due to bad intentions, but to the subjective
perception of the phenomenon” (ibid., art. 15,
2°).
For this reason, the faithful must be attentive
and cautious in interpreting and disseminating
the alleged messages. To provide guidance in
this regard, we now point out some messages that
should be taken with special care, although many
of them can be adequately understood when seen
in light of the overall set of messages.
Reprimands and Threats
28. In some cases, Our Lady seems to show some
irritation because some of her instructions were
not followed. So, she warns about threatening
signs and the possibility of no longer appearing
(although afterward, the messages continue
unabated):
“I have come to call the world to conversion for
the last time. Later, I will no longer appear on
earth. These are my final appearances” (2 May
1982).
“Make haste to convert. When the promised sign
is manifested on the hill, it will already be
too late” (2 September 1982).
“Today, I am calling upon you for the last time.
Now it is Lent, and you, as a parish, can adhere
now to my call out of love. If you do not do
that, I do not wish to give you any more
messages” (21 February 1985).
These messages should only be received as a call
not to postpone or delay conversion, keeping in
mind what St. Paul says: “Behold, now the
favorable time; behold, now the day of
salvation!” (2 Cor. 6:2).
In fact, one of the messages provides the right
light to interpret correctly the other messages
we have mentioned:
“Those who make catastrophic predictions are
false prophets. They say, ‘In such a year, on
such a day, there will be a catastrophe.’ I have
always said that chastisement will come if the
world does not convert. Therefore, I call
everyone to conversion. Everything depends on
your conversion” (15 December 1983).
Messages to the Parish
29. There are other expressions that run the
risk of being misinterpreted, as is the case
with the messages for the parish. In them, Our
Lady seems to want to exercise control over the
details of the parish’s spiritual and pastoral
journey (including requests for days of fasting
or specific commitments to undertake for the
various liturgical seasons), giving the
impression that she wants to take the place of
the ordinary parish structures meant for
participation. Sometimes, as we can see in the
messages that follow, the “special care” that
Our Lady wants to exercise over the parish
extends to the point of recrimination that her
pastoral directions are not being obeyed:
“Dear children, I have chosen this parish in a
special way, and I desire to lead it. With love,
I am protecting it, and I want everyone to be
mine. Thank you for coming here this evening. I
want more and more of you to be with me and my
Son. I will give you a special message every
Thursday” (1 March 1984).
“Dear children, tomorrow night [on the Feast of
Pentecost], pray for the Spirit of Truth.
Especially those of you from the parish, because
you need the Spirit of Truth so that you will be
able to transmit the messages as they are,
neither adding anything nor taking anything
away, but [transmitting them] just as I have
given them” (9 June 1984).
“Dear children, in these days [of Advent], I am
calling you to family prayer. On several
occasions, I have given you messages in God’s
name, but you have not listened to me. This
Christmas will be unforgettable for you as long
as you accept the messages that I am giving you”
(6 December 1984).
“Dear children, I wish to continue giving you my
messages, and so, today, I call upon you to live
and accept my messages. My children, I love you
and have chosen this parish that is loved by me
in a special way, where I gladly remained when
the Most High sent me. Therefore, I call upon
you: accept me, dear children, so that you too
may be happy. Listen to my messages! Listen to
me!” (21 March 1985).
“Today, I wanted to cease giving you messages
because some people did not accept me. However,
the parish has made progress, and I wish to give
you messages as never before in history since
the beginning of the world” (4 April 1985).
Such repeated exhortations addressed to the
parishioners are an understandable expression of
the alleged visionaries’ intense love for their
parish community. However, Our Lady’s messages
cannot replace the ordinary role of the parish
priest, the pastoral council, and the synodal
work of the community regarding decisions that
are the subject of communal discernment, through
which the parish matures in prudence, fraternal
listening, respect for others, and dialogue.
The Relentless Insistence on Listening to the
Messages
30. Beyond the frequent exhortations to the
faithful of the parish, in general, Our Lady
seems to promote listening to her messages so
insistently that sometimes this call stands out
more than the content of the messages
themselves: “Dear children, you are not aware of
the messages that God is sending you through me.
He is giving you graces, but you do not
understand” (8 November 1984). “You are not
aware of all the messages I am giving you” (15
November 1984). This risks creating a dependence
and an excessive expectation on the part of the
faithful, which could ultimately obscure the
central importance of the Revealed Word.
The insistence appears constantly. For example,
“Live my messages” (18 June 2010). “Spread my
messages” (25 June 2010). “Live the messages I
am giving you so that I can give you new
messages” (27 May 2011). “Follow my messages
[...] renew my messages” (17 June 2011).
“Embrace my messages and live my messages” (24
June 2011).
In some messages, as in the one that follows,
the insistence becomes pressing: “Dear children,
also today [your] Mother calls upon you with
joy: be my bearers, the bearers of my messages
in this weary world. Live my messages and accept
my messages with responsibility. Dear children,
pray together with me for my plans, which I
desire to fulfill” (30 December 2011).
This often-repeated appeal probably comes from
the love and generous fervor of the alleged
visionaries who, with goodwill, feared that the
Blessed Mother’s calls for conversion and peace
would be ignored. This insistence becomes even
more problematic when the messages refer to
requests that are unlikely to be of supernatural
origin, such as when Our Lady gives orders about
specific dates, places, and practicalities and
when she makes decisions about ordinary matters.
Although messages of this type are infrequent in
Medjugorje, we can find some of them that are
explained solely from the personal desires of
the alleged visionaries. The following is a
clear example of these misleading messages:
“This August 5th will mark the celebration of
the second millennium of my birth [...]. I ask
you to prepare yourselves intensively over three
days [...]. Do not work on these days” (1 August
1984).
It is reasonable for the faithful, using
prudence and common sense, not to take these
details seriously nor heed them. One must always
recall that in this spiritual experience (as in
other spiritual experiences and alleged
supernatural phenomena), positive and edifying
elements are mixed with other elements that are
to be ignored. But this fact should not lead one
to spurn the richness and the good of the
Medjugorje proposal as a whole.
Our Lady Gives the Right Value to Her Messages
31. In fact, it is Gospa herself who calls upon
us to put her messages in perspective. For, she
clearly affirms that we must listen to the
Gospel. Often, she asks that her messages be
listened to, but she also subordinates them to
the incomparable value of the Word revealed in
the Holy Scriptures. The following exhortations
are very insightful on this point, and they
become a central criterion for the attitude we
should adopt vis-à-vis the messages:
“Do not go in search of extraordinary things.
Instead, take the Gospel, read it, and
everything will be clear to you” (12 November
1982).
“Why do you ask so many questions? Every answer
is in the Gospel” (19 September 1981).
“Do not believe the lying voices that speak to
you about false things, a false light. You, my
children, return to Scripture!” (2 February
2018).
32. Our Lady’s call to read the Holy Scriptures
is one of the most repeated requests:
“Dear children, today I call upon you to read
the Bible every day in your homes: place it in a
visible place, so that it will always prompt you
to read and pray it” (18 October 1984). “Place
the Holy Scripture in a visible place in your
families; read it and live it” (25 August 1996).
“Put Holy Scripture in a visible place in your
families; read it, meditate on it, and learn how
God loves his people” (25 January 1999). “I call
on you to renew prayer in your families by
reading Holy Scripture” (25 September 1999). “Do
not forget, my children, to read Holy Scripture.
Put it in a visible place and give witness with
your lives that you believe and live the Word of
God” (25 January 2006). “Read and meditate on
Sacred Scripture, and may the words written in
it be life for you” (25 February 2012). “Put
Holy Scripture in a visible place in your
families and read it” (25 January 2014). “My
children, read the book of the Gospels. It is
always something new; it is what binds you to my
Son, who was born to bring words of life to all
my children” (2 November 2019).
33. On the other hand, the Gospa herself says
that, even more than the messages, it is the
witness of Christians that is the true light for
the world:
“I wish you to be active in living and spreading
the messages. In a special way, dear children, I
want you all to be a reflection of Jesus that
will illuminate this unfaithful world that walks
in darkness. I wish you all to be the light for
everyone, and I desire that you give witness to
the light” (5 June 1986).
34. In this way, one should recognize that the
messages in which Our Lady repeatedly asks us to
listen are ultimately her insistent calls to
convert, return to Christ, meditate on his Word,
pray, and seek peace. None of these distance us
from the Gospel or distract us from it.
Therefore, to remain faithful to the true spirit
of Medjugorje, we should not focus too much on
extraordinary events and alleged messages from
the Gospa but should use our time and energy to
pray with the Word of God, worship Christ, serve
our brothers and sisters, and build peace
everywhere.
The “Self-Exaltation” of Our Lady
35. Those messages that attribute to Our Lady
the expressions “my plan” or “my project” also
show a certain problematic aspect: “Each one of
you is important in my plan of salvation” (25
May 1993). “My children, do not forget that you
are important in my plan of salvation for
humanity” (25 June 2022). “I call on you to pray
[...] for my plans” (1 October 2004). “Also,
tonight I call on you to pray for my plans [...]
my projects” (2 September 2005).
These expressions might create some confusion.
In reality, everything Mary accomplishes is
always at the service of the Lord’s plan and his
divine plan of salvation. Mary does not have her
own plan for the world and the Church. As a
result, these messages can only be interpreted
in this sense: that Our Lady fully assumes God’s
plans to the point of expressing them as her
own.
36. Along these lines, special attention is
required concerning the possible misuse of the
word “mediatrix” in reference to Mary. Although
it is true that, in the messages overall,
everything is attributed to Jesus Christ, while
Mary cooperates with her maternal intercession,
certain expressions appear that do not seem
consistent with the whole: “I am the mediatrix
between you and God” (17 July 1986). “I desire
to be the link between you and the Heavenly
Father, your mediatrix” (18 March 2012).
Used in this way, the expression “mediatrix”
could erroneously lead one to attribute to Mary
a place that belongs uniquely and exclusively to
the Son of God made man. It would, in fact,
contradict what Sacred Scripture affirms when it
says that there is only one “Mediator between
God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave
himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). These
alleged messages also fail to express adequately
the fact that, as St. John Paul II explained,
Mary’s mediatory cooperation is “subordinate” to
the mediation of Christ (cf. Redemptoris Mater,
par. 39). In this way, her cooperation “neither
takes away from nor adds anything to the dignity
and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator”
(Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, par.
62).
In the same message of 18 March 2012, however,
it is clear that Mary’s mediation does not
obscure Christ’s unique mediation since hers
concerns only a “maternal intercession” for us:
“Dear children! I come among you because I
desire to be your mother, your advocate.”
With Us, Toward Christ
37. One must bear in mind that the messages as a
whole have a strong theocentric and
Christological emphasis. Some of the messages
offer help in this regard because they
underscore Mary’s maternal intercession as the
key to her specific and always subordinate role.
The following messages, in which Mary emphasizes
that she cannot and will not replace Jesus
Christ, are especially clear on this topic:
“I do not directly dispose of divine graces, but
I receive from God what I ask for through my
prayer” (31 August 1982).
“Pray, and through prayer encounter my Son, so
that he may grant you the strength, that he may
grant you the grace” (23 June 2017).
“Decide for Jesus; decide and go together with
him into the future. [...] I desire to lead all
of you to my Son [...]. Decide for him and put
him first in your lives” (22 June 2012).
“By living my messages, I desire to lead you to
my Son. In all these years that I am with you,
my finger is pointing to my Son, to Jesus,
because I desire to lead you all to him” (28
December 2012)
The following can be considered as a summary of
the Gospel message as seen through Medjugorje:
“I desire to draw you ever closer to Jesus and
his wounded heart so that you might understand
the immeasurable love that gave itself for each
of you. Therefore, dear children, pray that a
fountain of love might flow from your hearts to
every person, as well as to those who hate and
despise you. In this way, with the love of
Jesus, you will be able to overcome all the
misery in this world of sorrows, which is
without hope for those who do not know Jesus”
(25 November 1991).
Therefore, it is essential to be attentive to
what the overall events surrounding Medjugorje
remind us about the teachings of the Gospel,
focusing not on the details but on the great
exhortations that appear in the Gospa’s
messages. In their light, some less important or
unclear texts should be read with prudence.
Conclusions
38. Through the Nihil obstat about a spiritual
event, the faithful “are authorized to give it
their adherence in a prudent manner” (Norms,
art. 22, §1; cf. Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini,
par. 14). While this does not imply a
declaration of the supernatural character of the
phenomenon in question (cf. Norms, art. 22,
§2)—and recalling that the faithful are not
obliged to believe in it—the Nihil obstat
indicates that the faithful can receive a
positive encouragement for their Christian life
through this spiritual proposal, and it
authorizes public acts of devotion. Such a
determination is possible insofar as many
positive fruits have been noted in the midst of
a spiritual experience, while negative and
dangerous effects have not spread among the
People of God.
Evaluating the abundant and widespread fruits,
which are so beautiful and positive, does not
imply that the alleged supernatural events are
declared authentic. Instead, it only highlights
that the Holy Spirit is acting fruitfully for
the good of the faithful “in the midst” of this
spiritual phenomenon of Medjugorje. For this
reason, all are invited to appreciate and share
the pastoral value of this spiritual proposal
(cf. Norms, par. 17).
Moreover, the positive assessment that most of
the messages of Medjugorje are edifying does not
imply a declaration that they have a direct
supernatural origin. Consequently, when
referring to “messages” from Our Lady, one
should always bear in mind that they are
“alleged messages.”
39. The elements gathered in this Note make it
possible to recognize that the conditions are
present to proceed with the determination of a
Nihil obstat. The Bishop of Mostar-Duvno will
issue the corresponding decree. The special
Apostolic Visitor for the Parish of Medjugorje,
who will continue to carry out the functions
entrusted to him, should verify that this Note
is included as an Introduction in any
publication that collects the messages. In light
of the clarifications offered above, he will
then discern any future messages—or past
messages that have not yet been published—and
should authorize them before any publication.
Likewise, he will take such measures as he deems
necessary and will guide pastoral discernment in
response to new situations that may arise,
keeping this Dicastery informed.
40. Although there may be different opinions
about the authenticity of some facts or certain
aspects of this spiritual experience, the
ecclesiastical authorities of the places where
it is present are invited to “appreciate the
pastoral value of this spiritual proposal, and
even to promote its spread” (Norms, par. 17).
However, the power of each Diocesan Bishop to
assess prudently what is happening in his own
territory and to make his own decision on the
matter remains firmly in place (cf. Norms, art.
7, §3). While the positive fruits of this
spiritual phenomenon are widely spread
throughout the world, this does not deny that
there may be groups or persons who, by misusing
this spiritual phenomenon, act in a mistaken
way. Each Diocesan Bishop, in his own Diocese,
has the freedom and authority to make the
prudential decisions he deems necessary for the
good of the People of God.
41. In any case, may the people who go to
Medjugorje be strongly advised that pilgrimages
are not made to meet with alleged visionaries
but to have an encounter with Mary, the Queen of
Peace, and—faithful to her love for her Son—to
encounter Christ and listen to him through
meditation on the Word, by participation in the
Eucharist, and in Eucharistic Adoration, as
happens in so many shrines spread all over the
world in which the Virgin Mary is venerated with
the most varied titles.
42. Let us read one last message, which
summarizes the valuable Christocentric sense of
the message of Medjugorje and manifests its most
authentic spirit:
“Dear children, my words are simple [...]. I am
calling you to my Son. Only he can transform
despair and suffering into peace and serenity.
Only he can give hope in the deepest sorrows. My
Son is the life of the world. The more you come
to know him, the closer you come to him, and all
the more will you love him because my Son is
Love. Love changes everything; even that which
seems insignificant to you apart from love is
made most beautiful by love.” (2 September
2018).
Queen of Peace, pray that those who freely
accept the spiritual proposal of Medjugorje may
live ever more united with Jesus Christ and find
true peace of heart in him.
To you, we also entrust this world of ours,
which is succumbing to a “third world war fought
piecemeal.” Queen of Peace, hear the plea that
rises from the hearts of children, young people,
the poor, and every person of goodwill.
“Thank you, our Mother! Looking to you, who are
without sin, may we continue to believe and hope
that love might conquer hatred, that truth might
conquer lies, that pardon might conquer
offenses, that peace might conquer war. So may
it be!” (Francis, Prayer to Mary Immaculate, 8
December 2022).
The Supreme Pontiff Francis, at the Audience
granted to the undersigned Prefect, together
with the Secretary for the Doctrinal Section of
the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, on
28 August 2024, approved this Note and ordered
its publication.
Given in Rome, at the Dicastery for the Doctrine
of the Faith, 19 September 2024.
Víctor Manuel Card. Fernández
Prefect
Msgr. Armando Matteo
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section
Ex Audientia Die 28.08.2024
Franciscus
|