What makes the Medjugorje phenomenon so attractive?
Despite controversies, denigrations and fierce assaults, Medjugorje, or Međugorje, as spelled in Croatian, continues to attract thousands, even millions, of people from all around the world. Surprisingly, not just Catholics.
So, what is the secret of Medjugorje? The answer may actually be discerned in the official standpoint of the Catholic church. Although neither recognising nor disproving any supernatural events, in 2018, the Pope named Henryk Hoser as an apostolic visitor to Medjugorje, for “an undefined period and at nutum Sanctae Sedis” (at the disposal of the Holy See). The aim of this mission was… “ensuring a stable and continuous accompaniment to the parish community of Medjugorje and to the faithful who go there as pilgrims, and whose needs require particular attention.”
In 2019, the Catholic church officially authorized pilgrimages to Medjugorje as long as there is no assumption the events are confirmed to have a supernatural origin. Consequently, one of the major factors making Medjugorje outstanding are “the faithful who go there as pilgrims”.
Testimonies of our travellers
Portal Day Tours, a Split-based travel agency from Croatia, has been organizing trips to Medjugorje for years now, taking thousand of people from all around the world. Over the course of years, some of theme shared their experiences and impressions with us. Back in 2018, a sole traveller from Argentina joined our group tour from Split to Mostar and Medjugorje (we only do private tours today), expressing her desire to go only to Medjugorje.
She had a special reason: confession. Actually, the main reasons why she travelled all the way to Europe was to have confession in Medjugorje! At the end of the tour, our tour guide was keenly interested to talk to her and find out what was the confession like. The lady was overwhelmed with joy. Apparently, the priest she had approached didn’t just perform a regular confession. Rather, it was a profound, soul-searching conversation, that took her back to her childhood and the trauma she experienced as a child. The priest offered sound advice, combining spiritual and psychological assistance. The encouragement she received made a powerful impression on her.
A large family from Guatemala travelled to Medjugorje, booking our private tour from Split. As it turned out, that was their second visit to Medjugorje! (Keep in mind that Guatemala isn’t exactly round the corner).
When one of the family members was diagnosed with a serious illness, their family friend, a local priest, suggested the entire extended go to Medjugorje to seek spiritual assistance. Grateful for the improvement experienced after the first visit, they planned another one.
The Takeaway
The miracle of Medjugorje will undoubtedly keep drawing “the faithful” to congregate there and experience the true meaning of the Church in the first place. The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.”
If you want to share in assembling together with “called-out ones”, experiencing the power of their faith, Medjugorje may well be to place to visit. Feel free to contact Portal Day Tours if you would like us to help you organize your pilgrimage to Medjugorje.