Pilgrimage to Medjugorje: A Personal Reflection

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Medjugorje is a village nestled between the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina, predominantly inhabited by Croatian Catholics. It is most well-known as the site of reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary, which first occurred on the 24th of June, 1981, around six o’clock in the late afternoon. Since then, these apparitions have continued to be reported with remarkable frequency.

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The initial vision was experienced by six young individuals: Ivanka Ivanković, Mirjana Dragićević, Vicka Ivanković, Ivan Dragićević, and Milka Pavlović. They described the Virgin Mary as a beautiful lady, holding a child in her arms. News of these events quickly spread, and Medjugorje has since become a significant pilgrimage destination, attracting millions of visitors over the years.

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My own pilgrimage to Medjugorje took place during the summer. It was a deeply moving experience, during which I personally witnessed several apparitions. The first occurred while attending a talk by one of the visionaries. The event was held in a large hall filled with fellow pilgrims, where a prominent painting of the Virgin Mary adorned the wall. As I listened and gazed at the image, I distinctly saw it move. I quietly mentioned this to Margaret, who was seated next to me, but she dismissed my observation and asked me to remain silent.

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After the talk, we took photographs near the painting. While Margaret was taking a photo of me standing beside it, she suddenly exclaimed that the Virgin appeared to move and point toward me. She later experienced the same phenomenon while posing for a photograph herself. Upon returning to England, I had the film developed, and the difference between the original painting and the image captured in the photograph taken of me in Medjugorje was clearly visible.

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A second, equally profound experience occurred as we queued with other pilgrims for a taxi to attend another talk on apparitions, this time in the mountains. I was feeling unwell and had intended to return to the hotel, which was quite a walk away in the growing darkness. At that moment, I saw a vision of Christ standing at the corner of the road near us. Just then, despite the long line ahead of us, a taxi unexpectedly appeared and stopped directly in front of us. Margaret, sensing the urgency, pushed me inside saying, “Get in, for God’s sake,” and we set off toward the mountain.

Upon arrival, I was handed a blanket by a fellow pilgrim to sit on the rocky terrain. That evening turned into a truly unforgettable moment—sitting under the starlit sky, surrounded by others in quiet reverence, listening to a talk that deeply resonated with the spirit of the place.