Medjugorje Forum

Former pastor at Medjugorje Fr Ljubo Kurtovic celebrated Mass on the outside altar at Medjugorje this evening, along with 196 concelebrating priests, for the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist.

In his homily he spoke of countless multitudes who have testified these 38 years of a change and conversion in their lives, and a spiritual awakening from spiritual death. He added that it was impossible to defeat all those souls and hearts that have been touched by the nearness of heaven.

He also said that in recent years it is difficult to count all the books that have been written about Medjugorje – studies, research, testimonies and chronicles of events – and then stated that Medjugorje has remained and brings good fruit despite all the distorted stories of various fanatics who see miracles at every turn.

Fr. Ljubo Kurtović at the Eve of the Apparitions: Međugorje remained and still bears a good fruit
date: 25.06.2019.

At the Eve of the Apparitions of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje, the Feast of St. John the Baptist, June 24, Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic was the main celebrant of the evening Holy Mass with 196 priests concelebrating and many faithful who arrived on this occasion.

-Even though we celebrate the Anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions tomorrow, it is on this day in these hours, 38 years ago, as the visionaries continue to witness that Gospa appeared to them on Apparition Hill with baby Jesus in her arms. This day when she appeared without saying anything is very significant. This was the day of St. John, herald, of the one who prepared the way to the Lord, the one who pointed to Him as to the Lamb of God who takes away our sins, burdens, anxieties and guilt. This is what Gospa has been doing here in so many ways of graces, preparing the way and leading us to Jesus. This first day contains the importance of the apparitions and of Medjugorje in the presence of Our Lady. There is nothing as important, nothing we need so much as God, the one she gives us and leads us towards. This is what so many have witnessed in all of these years with their changed lives, conversions and spiritual awakening from the spiritual death. It is impossible to count all those souls and hearts that were touched with the vicinity of Heaven and of the graces poured out here. Medjugorje remained and still bears good fruits, despite all the opposition sayings. Gospa is alive here, she is present here and she perseveres in her invitation for every heart to be changed. This conversion and change is something we need each day. We know it is easy to get enthusiastic at the beginning, but to remain such in 38 years is impossible in human terms. Gospa never told us come here so you would see me, she speaks to us in more demanding way and gives us what we need to do in order for us to be opened to the living presence of our Lord. Also, the Church after all of these years has recognised the good fruits that take place here, that arise in Medjugorje, said Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic, emphasising the evangelic element of ‘you shall recognise them by their fruits’. The tree is recognised by its fruits, we cannot see the roots, but we see the fruits. The same is here. The fruits here have its root, its beginning that was initiated 38 years ago, and those are prayer, fasting, conversion, Holy Mass with the heart, Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Word of God, confession and reconciliation with ourselves and our neighbours.

Fr. Ljubo is the parish priest in Humac, where the Peace Walk began yesterday with the blessing of pilgrims and prayer outside the shrine of St. Anthony in Humac at 6 am and arrived to Medjugorje around 10 am. Fr. Marinko Sakota led the prayers during this traditional Walk.

Prayer for peace is desire of Gospa and we are here to accomplish it. Prayer works and opens ways to God. Prayer is what this world todays needs the most, said Fr. Marinko and added that many pilgrims from all over the world took part in this.

The final Benediction was given by Fr. Zvonimir Pavicic and Hubert Liebherr, German pilgrim who initiated this walk in 1992, after the war broke out here said: I am very grateful today. Even though I cannot walk for the last two years, but I am so moved that the parish continued our initiative and that we are all united in the prayer for peace.

Today we celebrate the Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparitions and the main Holy Mass shall take place at 7 pm, followed by the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 7 am, as it is the practice on every 25th in the month. (photo)

My summary is taken from a report and direct quotes published by jabuka.tv

The Medjugorje website, quotes Fr Ljubo as saying: “Medjugorje remained and still bears good fruits, despite all the opposition sayings…”

jabuka.tv quotes directly: “Medjugorje has remained and brings good fruit despite all the distorted stories of various fanatics who see miracles at every turn.”

So did the official Medjugorje website tone down Fr Ljubo’s quote? Or did jabuka.tv misquote the priest in the first instance?

Somewhat ironic that jabuka.tv uses the word ‘distortion’ while the official website uses the phrase ‘opposition sayings’.

So which publisher is quoting Fr Ljubo accurately?

The clue may be in this phrase used by the official website: “Gospa never told us come here so you would see me, she speaks to us in more demanding way…” Perhaps a more gentle way of referring to “various fanatics who see miracles at every turn.”

I wonder why you would highlight that phrase as the title of your post? Are you unhappy with the response of some of the pilgrims/enthusiasts? The way I read Fr.'s statement of "Medjugorje remained and still bears good fruits, despite all the opposition sayings." I think Father may be referring to the skeptics in this statement, I do not think he is referring to Medjugorje enthusiasts. Of course this is only my opinion.

Perhaps you would be better asking why Fr Ljubo used the phrase “despite all the stories of various fanatics who see miracles at every turn”?

But if you prefer the version presented by the Medjugorje official website, perhaps you should ask why its quote has been toned down to read “despite all the opposition sayings” which lead you to interpret the meaning to “skeptics” and not “various fanatics who see miracles at every turn”?

This “twirling” of words to apply a different meaning is done for a reason. Whichever quote is factual has truth to support it. Truth is not based on a lie, but a lie can presented as ‘truth’.

The jabuka.tv report also used the phrase: “Concluding his strong sermon…”. It also mentioned that Fr Ljubo pointed out that “Communism in Medjugorje saw Our Lady’s apparitions as a danger and threat”. The parish website report doesn’t mention “Communism”, perhaps not wanting to open old wounds.

The jabuka.tv report was published on the same day as Fr Ljubo’s homily (24th June). The parish report appeared on its website the following day (25th June).

Here is the headline from the tv report
Fra Ljubo Kurtović: "Communism saw the danger and the threat in Our Lady's apparitions"
Why did you change the headline? Why did you pick out a criticism to begin a post on a pro Medjugorje forum? Could the online translator have not conveyed the thought and intention of the words of Fr.?
Here is the translation of the Mass and homily
Numerous believers arrived in Medjugorje on the feast of St. John the Baptist and on the note of the 38th anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions.

Before the great number of believers on the outer altar of the Medjugorje parish church, Holy Mass was presented by Fr. Ljubo Kurtović.

In his sermon, Fr. Ljubo recalled Our Lady's apparitions 38 years ago, pointing out that the first day of apparitions was a sign of the feast of St. John the Baptist.

On that first day, apparition is the meaning and the essence of Our Lady's presence. Nothing more important and necessary we have nothing to do with what Mother donates to us, and it gives us God and leads us to God. This countless multitudes have testified through all these years of changed and converted life, spiritual awakening from spiritual death. It is impossible to defeat all those souls and hearts that have been touched by the nearness of heaven and grace , said Fr. Ljubo, adding that Medjugorje had passed his path and the process was still under way since the initial attempts to persecute, persecute, invent and accuse the priests, parishioners and pilgrims.

In his sermon Fr. Ljubo pointed out that communism in Medjugorje in the apparitions of Our Lady saw danger and threat.

In recent years, it is difficult to count all the books that have been written about Medjugorje, studies, research, testimonies and chronicles of events. Medjugorje has remained and brings good fruit despite all the distorted stories of various fanatics who see miracles at every turn. Our Lady lives here and persevere in her calls with the desire to make conversion and change in each heart , she stressed.

Concluding his strong sermon, Fr. Ljubo said that we should help the Heavenly Mother say "He feels pain for every heart that is far from her heart."

In addition to the chief preacher, Fr. Ljubu Kurtović, 196 other priests celebrated the Mass .

Why didn’t the parish report publish the headline used by jakuba.tv or even mention Communism?

Did the parish website or jakuba.tv misquote Fr Ljubo? If so, why?

In his homily yesterday (25th), Fr Miljenko Šteko spoke of the young visionaries resisting the Communist authorities attempts to silence them.

Pro-Medjugorje or pro-apparitions... is there a difference?

What exactly does pro-Medjugorje mean?

You answer a post with more questions. It looks like you have undertaken the mission to plant doubts in the minds of Medjugorje devotees. You have established some personal criteria for the correct way to view these apparitions from Our Lady and any time you find some cleric or critic that reinforces your own personal viewpoint, you post to your blog and let everyone that reads the forum about it. Pro- Medjugorje means that based on the rules of this forum, we need to have a belief in the ongoing apparitions of Our Lady. From the rules thread: Also another guideline for posting on the Medjugorje Forum is having a belief in Medjugorje.

No one here wishes to debate Medjugorje's authenticity. We've done that before, and it gets nowhere. There are other forums where you can do that, but this is not one of them.
God bless you.

You answer a post with more questions.

Probably because you never bother to answer any of mine.

Consider why you bless me on one hand and accuse me on another.

Pro- Medjugorje means that based on the rules of this forum, we need to have a belief in the ongoing apparitions of Our Lady. From the rules thread: Also another guideline for posting on the Medjugorje Forum is having a belief in Medjugorje.

As to having a belief in Medjugorje, what does that exactly mean? The rules certainly don’t state that there should be a belief in the ongoing apparitions. That’s just you stating something that isn’t true.

Are you saying that to believe in Medjugorje means having to believe in the ongoing apparitions?

Of course, I have my own personal belief and experiences of Medjugorje. I’ve travelled there about 35 times, taken many groups there, family also. I experienced my conversion there. I encourage people to go there. I don’t go out of my way to insist that people must believe in the apparitions to experience the graces and the fruits of Medjugorje. It’s not conditional.

And why do you describe Fr Ljubo Kurtovic as “some cleric”?

You know you can always choose not to read or respond to any of my posts, just as you choose not to anwer my questions.

Belief in the ongoing apparitions is why I presume that Sean keeps the forum open for discussion. I made a presumption there that is not explicitly stated in the rules. Am I wrong to do that?

Are you inviting me to accuse you?

I simply pointed out that what you stated to be in the rules wasn’t, when you accused me of infringing the rules of the forum according to your interpretation.

I am defeated by your clever wit.

Let’s move on... to “new times” and a fresh start. Peace.