Medugorje

This is near the site where 6 teenagers in the 1980s had a vision of the Virgin Mary carrying the baby Jesus. She reappeared in the site where this church was then built, and now it is one of the top pilgrimage sites for Catholics worldwide. In fact, it is the only place in Bosnia with a large permanent resident population of Irish Catholics (we just love a good Virgin Mary visitation!).


One of the most interesting and controversial aspects of this place has to do with this statue of the Blessed Virgin.

On the knee, you can see a small spot that weeps a red substance which very much resembles blood. The faithful say Mary is bleeding for her son or for us or for whatever, while skeptics say there must be plumbing inside which causes the weeping.

The one fact that is not disputed is that a small amount of reddish substance is constantly emitted from the knee.

While we were visiting, mass was happening and there were just hundreds of people outside the church participating in the service. It was inspiring to see their devotion and vicariously experience their faith.

In this spot, you can buy a red candle and say a prayer if you want. I made a prayer for my mother that she may overcome the hurt and guilt of her Catholic upbringing. It was amazing, actually, because right after this, I received my first phone call of the trip: from my MOM! It was her birthday this week.



After purchasing kitsch like you wouldn't believe, I accidentally left my wallet in one of the stores on the counter! After leaving Medugorje in the bus, I realized in a panic that I didn't have my wallet. But I was able to go back to the town (in the "executive van") and when I got there, the proprietor came running out, shaking her finger and chastising me, "stupid, stupid, stupid! Allison I have your wallet!" Oh never in my life have I been so happy to be called stupid! All the money, cards, and everything was there!!!! The woman said she had been looking for me for an hour and showed me the goosebumps on her arm. She refused to take any money for her help, stating that she was a good Catholic. She also said (in Bosnian, which was translated for me) that I was lucky to lose my wallet in Medugorje, because if I left it somewhere in Sarajevo it would be gone in 5 seconds!

So maybe there is something to this Virgin Mary thing after all.... I definately felt someone was looking after me (and my wallet!).