GOD’S GRACES ARE LIMITLESS!
A Pilgrimage from Heaven
Our Weible Columns pilgrimage to Medjugorje was, once again filled with The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, too many graces to count and a wonderful group of pilgrims. Our Lady truly calls us to Medjugorje right when it is our time to go. Known as the “School of Love” pilgrims are called at the perfect time when they are open to what Our Lady has to tell to them and what graces God has to pour into their soul at that particular time in their life.
The overwhelming sense one feels in Medjugorje is love, God’s love. It is a spiritual outpouring that literally fills one’s heart in an indescribable way. It gives each pilgrim a giddiness and joyfulness as one feels elevated to the heart of God.
Our Lady wraps her arms around each of us as she gently guides us towards her Son, Jesus. She teaches us to always put Her Son first. In one of her messages, she said, “if you find yourself having to choose between Holy Mass or seeing me in the apparition, you must choose to attend the Holy Mass because during the Holy Mass my Son is with you.” Nov. 6, 2009.
The village of Medjugorje was the busiest I have ever seen it in an October month. The streets were bustling with pilgrims either heading to or from St. James Church. Since the Vatican announcement that elevated Medjugorje to a first-class shrine, the village has exploded with people visiting from all over the world.
Despite the fact that so many people were present, making it hard to fit into church for Holy Mass or find a seat, I couldn’t help thinking, this is what we are praying for, that all souls will discover the immeasurable love Our Father in Heaven has for us and the love His Mother has for each of her children. I chuckled to myself thinking if he was still alive, Wayne might have complained somewhat and I would have had to remind him, it is your fault so many people are here. You spend more than 30 years traveling throughout the whole world telling everyone about Medjugorje and writing 11 books on the holy site!
Our pilgrimage group was made up of people from Hilton Head, South Carolina, a few from Louisiana, Florida, Wisconsin and Tennessee. We were a complete mix of ages and demographics. It was a perfect blend of culture and experience. By the second night over dinner, we chatted as if we had known each other for years, a truly bonded group!
Fr. Michael from Queen of the Apostles Parish in Madison, Wisconsin was our spiritual director for the week and it was Fr. Michael’s first trip to Medjugorje. He was the perfect spiritual leader! The highlight of his week was being the main celebrant for Holy Mass at St. James Church. His Mass was beautiful and his homily was excellent! He was such a wonderful asset to the group. As such, I invited him back to be our spiritual director every year for the foreseeable future. Next year, we will have two pilgrimages to Medjugorje: the first week will be October 9-17 with Fr. Michael and the second week will be October 17-25 with our parish priest, Fr. Kong Nguyen.
Dragan Zovko was our local guide. Dragan has been guiding in Medjugorje for at least 35 years and was the guide on my first pilgrimage to Medjugorje. He was a dear friend of Waynes’ and has remained close to us through the years. He works with 206 Tours on many pilgrimages and brought a wealth of local and historical knowledge to our group and also a lot of laughter!
Each day, Dragan and I planned an spiritual adventure for the pilgrims. We included a day trip to Tihaljina, to visit the Church of the Immaculate Conception where the famous statue of Our Lady of Grace stands. This is the church where Fr. Jozo Zovko used to be stationed as the pastor so many years ago. We also visited the Divine Mercy Church in Surmanci where the famous painting in which Hugo Festa saw Jesus actually walk out of the painting and heal him of multiple sclerosis. In both churches, Fr. Michael celebrated a private mass for the group. They were both very spiritually touching. Our third excursion was to Mostar, to the Church of St. Peter and Paul which has a Franciscan Monastery attached. We had the special gift of a private talk by Fr. Svetozar Kraljević (Fr. Svet) who many remember was stationed in Medjugorje for 16 years. He worked closely with Wayne having collaborated on several of his books and traveling to the United States, speaking all over the country with him. After our talk from Fr. Svet, we headed to the famous Stari Most Bridge that spans the Neretva River. We took a group photograph and then headed off to find lunch in one of the little restaurants scattered throughout the cobblestone streets of the market bazaar, a throwback to the Turkish era which once occupied the land.
Our last night was filled with prayers, reflections, smiles and goodbyes. I am sure many of our group will be back to visit Medjugorje very soon. For me, being able to share this wonderful week with my new husband, Todd Smith was truly a joy. His strong faith and various suggestions throughout the week not only enhanced my personal pilgrimage but also the pilgrimage for the group. Praise God for never ceasing to pour out your graces upon us. I am already excited for next year.
-- Judith Weible
MIRACLES IN OUR LIVES
This month’s newsletter has a strong theme of miracles running through it to remind us how God can and does work in our lives. As we become wrapped up in our daily lives, it is easy for us to overlook the small and sometimes large miracles God is constantly doing for us and not notice His hand at work.
The following two articles describe huge miracles that happened in Medjugorje to two women who were completely healed of medical issues. Our modern world is filled with science and fact, and so often does not have room for the supernatural. We think of “miraculous healing” taking part in the Jesus’ time, something to read about in the Bible. But nothing is further than the truth. Modern day miracles take place all around us if we just open our spiritual eyes to see them.
I have had two such miracles, which happened in my life recently, miracles in which I know God played a huge role in orchestrating their occurrence. Miracle number one goes back to last summer when I was still living in Tennessee. On one weekend when I came back to Georgia to visit and ride my horses, as I frequently did, I saw the most amazing house for sale right by my horses’ home. It had enough space to house Weible Columns business and land similar to a park which I could one day visualize becoming a retreat center. I knew I was supposed to buy and live on the property. I prayed to God with all my heart that He allow me to have the house and within a month, I had sold my house in Tennessee, bought the house and here I am living now back in Georgia.
Follow this link to purchase our hard copy June newspaper edition which includes this article in full: https://weiblecolumns.org/shop/medjugorje-newsletter
(Scroll to Weible Columns Monthly Newsletter, last item, June 2019 issue - Holy Land Pilgrimage)