Ivan’s July 8, 2011 Prayer Group Apparition at the Blue Cross
There were already several hundred pilgrims gathered at the Blue Cross 2-3 hours before Our Lady appeared to Ivan tonight. By the time the prayer group began at about 8:45 p.m., the crowd had grown into the thousands and they continued to come and squeeze into any available space they could find up to the last moment. It was a beautiful evening, and those who arrived early were able to witness a beautiful sunset. As the singing of the prayer group began, the evening slowly faded into night. By the time the Sorrowful Mysteries were begun by Ivan, the moon and the stars filled the night sky. Our Lady appeared to Ivan around 10:00 p.m. tonight and the apparition lasted several minutes. The following is Ivan’s description of Our Lady’s apparition tonight:
“Tonight, the most important from the meeting with Our Lady is that tonight Our Lady came very joyful and happy and at the beginning, as always, She greeted us all with Her Motherly greeting, “Praised be Jesus, my dear children.” Our Lady then extended her hands and prayed over all of us here for a longer while. She especially prayed over the priests present here for a longer time and over the sick present. She blessed us all with Her Motherly blessing. She also blessed the religious articles brought for blessing. Then Our Lady prayed today especially for priests, bishops, the Holy Father and for vocations in the Church. Then Our Lady prayed a longer time here together with us. I recommended all of you, your needs, your intentions, your families and especially the sick. Then a brief conversation followed between us. After that conversation, Our Lady left in prayer, in an illuminated Sign of the Cross with a greeting,“Go in peace, my dear children.”
“What I would especially like to emphasize tonight is that Our Lady especially prayed for a longer time for the intentions of the priests, bishops, the Holy Father and especially for vocations in the Church.”
A stone on the path leading to the Blue Cross gives directions to pilgrims who are unfamiliar with the holy sites of Medjugorje. A blue cross and an arrow are all that is necessary to direct people towards the location where Our Lady appears frequently to visionaries Ivan on some Friday evenings throughout the summer and Mirjana on the second of every month. The Blue Cross is one of the most beloved sites in the village, and also one of the most historic sites involving the apparitions of Our Lady, as the apparitions have consistently taken place here from the very beginning days in 1981 to this present day.
Medjugorje is a place of faith. It provides a home for the heart searching for answers, a place of hope in a hopeless world.
The pilgrims here have gathered at the Blue Cross hours before Our Lady’s apparition to Ivan, on this Friday night of June 8, 2011. Tonight, when Our Lady appeared, She raised Her arms in a blessing over all those gathered here. This blessing will be carried in their hearts all the rest of their lives. But like the parable of the seed that fell on rocky soil versus good soil, there will be those who allow Medjugorje to change their lives, and others who will return to their homes exactly as they came—unconverted, unbelieving. The blessings and graces are freely given by Our Lady, but each individual must decide what they will do with those graces. Each person must decide for conversion.
One hour before Our Lady’s apparition at the Blue Cross, tonight, July 8, 2011. The early arrivals must share their coveted spots with many others who now come to take up every available space as near to the Blue Cross as possible where Our Lady will appear. It is always amazing to watch the thousands of people that suddenly appear flooding onto the mountain in the fading evening light as apparition time draws near.
We come before Our Lady with what is nearest and dearest to our hearts.
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