Story

June 24, 1981

It was a normal day in the village of Medjugorje.

Around 6pm, six children from the village had gathered near a hill behind the village called Podrdo. When one of the children looked up at the hill, she saw something very strange: an "incredibly beautiful woman" standing with a child in her arms.

The woman said nothing. She did, however, gesture for the children to come towards her. The children did not go: they were too afraid. Instead, they returned to the village telling some that they had seen "Gospa" (a term of endearment for Our Lady used in this region).

Day 2

As the next day drew to a close, they children who had claimed to see Gospa the previous day began to feel an inner urge to return to the hill. Four of those children (along with two "new" children) did return to the hill around 6pm.

As they approached the hill, they saw a flash of light. Shortly thereafter, the woman reappeared. Like the first day, the woman looked joyful and motioned for the children to come forward.

Unlike the previous day, the children were not fearful. The raced up the hill and, when they reached the woman, feel to their knees in prayer.

Soon the children's prayer gave way to curiosity; they began asking the woman many questions about who she was and why she had come. After a brief discussion, the woman said, "God be with you my angels," and left.

Day 3

By the third day, upwards of 3000 people had gathered on Podbrdo hill for the anticipated apparition.

As the children approached the hill, all those gathered witnessed three flashes of light after which the woman appeared.

During this apparition, the children "tested" the apparition by throwing holy water at it and saying, "If you are Our Blessed Mother, please stay, and if you are not, go away from us!" The woman smiled and remained.

Next, the children asked the woman to identify herself. It was then that the woman said, "I am the Blessed Virgin Mary."

What happened next explained the purpose of Mother Mary's visit to the village:

At the conclusion of this third apparition, the visionaries were separated by people grabbing for them. One of the visionaries, however, managed to slip away and start back down the hill.

Unexpectedly, during the visionary's descent, Mother Mary appeared again to her - alone. Our Lady was not happy during this appearance as She had been during the others. Instead, She was concerned and crying and there was a cross appearing in the sky behind Her. And then She said to the visionary, "Peace, peace, peace - and only peace!" After which, She repeated twice, "Peace must reign behind God and man and between men!"

The proverbial fourth day

Since June 24, 1981, Mother Mary has been reported to appear to these same six children daily.

In that time, She has provided a series of messages - some are for the visionaries, some are for the village and some are for the world at large.

Our Lady's main message is that we must work to achieve "peace, peace, peace - and only peace!" She also reminds us that the only way to achieve this goal is through faith, conversion, prayer and fasting.

Sharing Medjugorje and encouraging "peace, peace, peace - and only peace!"