EXPERIENCE MEDJUGORJE

St. James is the center of sacramental life in Medjugorje. The original church was built in 1892 and placed under the protection of St. James, the patron saint of pilgrims. It was destroyed during a tremor and rebuilt in 1969. No one understood why such a huge church was built for such a small parish until the apparitions in 1981. Many pilgrims visit the church for daily Mass and the evening rosary. Just outside St. James Church is an outdoor altar (often used for evening adoration), a community prayer area that seats up to 5,000, an area for silent prayer, and confessionals.

When the apparitions began in 1981, pilgrims began flocking to Medjugorje, and St. James Church was no longer large enough to hold such crowds for Mass, Adoration, and Confession. In 1989, an exterior altar and prayer area (seating about 5000) were built to provide a large gathering place. Croatian prayers (with simultaneous translation) and simple, repetitive hymns offer a reverential setting in which to encounter Our Lord in Adoration. Pilgrims are moved by this shared spiritual experience and surprised by the sacred silence amid crowds of thousands!

Thanks to the instructive messages of Our Lady, Medjugorje has become a place of reconciliation, experienced particularly in the sacrament of Holy Confession. In 1990, 25 confessionals were installed on each side of St. James Church. A sign outside each confessional lists the languages spoken by the priest inside. Sometimes the lines are long, but pilgrims are patient and prayerful as they wait. When the number of pilgrims is exceptionally large, priests hear confessions on folding chairs outside the church. The confessional at St. James is considered the largest confessional in the world.

Climbing Cross Mountain is a moving experience. It is an introspective ascent during which pilgrims ponder their relationship with God and the need to draw closer to Him. “Krizevac” means “Mountain of the Cross” in Croatian. In 1933, villagers built a 16-ton, 29-foot cross on the mountain to commemorate the crucifixion. It contains a relic from the True Cross of Christ given to the people of Medjugorje by Pope Pius XI. The inscription on the cross reads, “To Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the human race, as a sign of their faith, love and hope, in remembrance of the 1900 years since the death of Jesus.”

Originally, 14 simple wooden crosses lined the rocky path up Mount Krizevac, so the pilgrims could reflect on the Way of the Cross as they climbed the rugged terrain to the top. But in 1988, Italian sculptor Carmelo Puzzolo created huge bronze reliefs of the Stations, which now reside in the rocks beside the 14 original crosses. A 15th bronze relief is located beneath the cross of Krizevac, which depicts the resurrection. Each station weighs more than 300 pounds and was carried up the hill and placed in position by the young people of Medjugorje. The Way of the Cross is prayed each Friday at 4 p.m. (2.p.m. in the winter).

Though Fr. Slavko Barbarić first came to Medjugorje to investigate the authenticity of the apparitions, he was eventually appointed to the parish of St James to minister to the of pilgrims who visited. Every day he rose early to climb Cross Mountain and pray the Stations of the Cross, usually with pilgrims or parishioners. On his way down, he would continue to pray as he picked up litter that had been left on the mountain. As he reached the last station on the last day of his life, he blessed the crowd and asked the Virgin Mary for a happy death. He then sat down on a rock and died. A memorial marks the place of his death.

Just south of the main path pilgrims use to climb Apparition Hill is a small alcove. Inside, a Blue Cross marks the spot where Our Lady appeared to the visionaries as children when they were hiding from the Communist police. This is also the spot where the visionary Mirjana typically goes on the 2nd day of each month to receive a special message from Our Lady for “those who do not yet believe.” In addition, Our Lady sometimes appears to the visionary Ivan here in the summer months. The Blue Cross is a very special place and an easy climb for those unable to climb to the top of Apparition Hill.

At the entrance to the grounds of St. James Parish, there is a beautiful Statue of Our Lady, the Queen of Peace. It was created and installed in 1987 by the Italian sculptor Dino Felici, who later designed a similar statue to be placed on Apparition Hill. This statue is often referred to as Our Lady of Medjugorje, because it is here that she welcomes all of Her children, desiring to take each by the hand and lead them to her heart and her Son. Day and night, pilgrims can be seen praying to their Mother and thanking them for calling them to Medjugorje.

In 1998, Slovenian sculptor Andrija Ajdič created this stunning 30-foot sculpture depicting the resurrected Christ stepping from the cross with His arms raised in triumph. Since 2000, the statue has miraculously dripped a liquid substance from its right knee, with a chemical makeup similar to human tears. Many pilgrims bring towels or handkerchiefs to absorb the “liquid,” believing it to be a miraculous substance. Though claims of healing have been made, the Church has not ruled on the nature of this occurrence. Physicists who have visited the site to investigate have no scientific explanation for its manifestation.

Just behind the parish of St. James is a beautiful tree-lined path lined with five stunning mosaics that depict the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. Pilgrims often walk the Via Domini, contemplating the public life and ministry of Jesus as they pray.

If you’re looking for a quiet place for prayer and meditation, this is it. Here pilgrims light votive candles for their loved ones who have passed away and for the numerous intentions they bring with them to Medjugorje, laying their troubles, hopes, and prayers at the foot of the cross.

If you travel to Medjugorje with a group, chances are you will attend a lecture or prayer meeting at the Hall of St. John Paul II. The Hall, which seats 800, was built in 1998 and features a painting by Carmelo Puzzolo based on the visionaries’ description of Our Lady.