Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina - 21 July 2007

Above right: The Queen of Peace monument on the Apparition Hill was donated by S. Korean pilgrims

"Believe. Faith will give you strength in life's trials and is the only joy and happiness in life." - a recent message from Mary through one of the six (now grown up) children who had seen visions of the Queen of Peace on June 24, 1981 up on a hill in Medjugorje.

Medjugorje has been turned into a shrine for pilgrims around the world since the Virgin apparitions appeared 26 years ago. A visit to this tiny town, located near the border of Croatia, in western Bosnia-Herzegovina was a must for me while I was in Dubrovnik. A few fellow pilgrims and I boarded the bus from Dubrovnik at 9 AM and arrived in Medjugorje at 11 AM. We were met by a local guide, Anita, who took us to the base of the Apparition hill where she briefed us on the sightings that occurred 26 years ago.

What I liked about Anita was that she was unassuming, happy and always smiling. There was a genuine peace and joy in her. She told us that she did not know where we came from or what personal griefs we bore but she knew that we were there because Mother Mary invited each and everyone of us. That was an "awww" moment.

All the debate on the apparitions aside, I have to say my own experience on the hill was a special one. Whatever I smelled and felt, it was real and it was good. A teenage girl from our group came unprepared for the rocky hike up wearing a pair of flip-flops instead of shoes. Her slippers broke midway through her climb (in 40 degrees celsius heat under the 12 o'clock sun). She took off her broken flip-flops and proceeded to climb bare feet - mind you in sharp rocks and extreme heat. We were so proud of her conviction, and in a way, she being at the same age as the 6 Croatian children who saw the visions only made her experience uncanny.

After the hike to the top of the hill where the Queen of Peace appeared, we spent a moment each to say our prayers and petitions. We then hiked down quickly to attend the 1 PM Mass at St. James church in the town centrum. It was standing room only by the time we entered the church. With the Mass in Croatian, all I did was stood and watched until the part of the Peace blessings when everyone around me turned and said their "Peace-be-with-you" blessings to me in Croatian. I wished them back in English. The exchanges were simply warm and loving. Strangers wishing one another well and peace despite the language barrier and more - a graceful moment that I would never forget.

Above: Crossing the border into Bosnia-Herzegovina territory

Above: "Croatian California" - the fertile valley where a variety of crops were grown

Photos of Medjugorje and my hike up the Apparition Hill:

Above left: View of Medjugorje from the Apparition Hill

Above: St. James church