Pascale

When I got married, my mother-in-law was wanting to come to Medjugorje. She never made it to Medjugorje, but she always talked about it. She was actually the first one to show me what the visionaries looked like. She had articles about it. 

Back in the ‘80s, we didn’t have the internet or access to Google or anything like that. I relied on articles and word of mouth. For me, the desire began back then, wanting to be around these people and hear more of the messages and see what Our Lady is telling us and heed Her warnings. I felt it was very important for Her warning to be followed just out of pure obedience. 

Recently, while I was in a meeting at a monastery in North Carolina with a couple of sisters, it was mentioned that there would be a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. I felt an instant calling to go. That was my opportunity.

Honestly, I didn’t know where the money was going to come from. I just knew that there was going to be a way that Our Lady was going to make me make it to Her land where She’s appearing. I was able to come, by the grace of God. I was able to find the funds and be able to make it here.

Upon arriving, I found the village, the parish of Medjugorje, to be very warm and the people very welcoming. I liked the simplicity of life. I liked the people’s faith, that was very powerful, and I could connect because we’re all Catholics.

Adoration is a critical component because it helps you to center yourself and to really develop that ability to communicate with Our Lord and to follow those Five Stones as requested by Our Lady. It’s also helping us to pray with our heart, again requested by Our Lady, because that’s where the relationship begins. It allows us to really be true to the prayers that we’re reciting as opposed to just throwing words out there and not being intentional with what we’re saying. It was quiet, and I felt I was adoring. He was adoring me. It was a one-on-one relationship. Even though there were thousands of people, it didn’t matter. At that moment, it was just myself and the Lord. 

The 40th Anniversary, oh my word, that was an amazing event. Seeing Our Lady being processed and the reverence that everybody all over the world showed for Her that day was extremely powerful. 

We were all connected by our faith, and, regardless of the language, you said the Hail Mary whether it was in Croatian, whether it was in French, whether it was in English. 

I would encourage anyone to experience Medjugorje for themselves, and to also take seriously the prayers and the warning Our Lady gives us. She would not appear and warn us if She did not care for us, pointing us to Her Son in order for us to be saved. She’s been doing that for years so it’s nothing new.