As the apparitions continued each day, the differences of each apparition only increased the mystery of the visions instead of making sense of why they were happening.
On this third day, news of the apparitions had spread to all the small villages and regions around Medjugorje. Consequently, several thousand people gathered on the hill that evening.
Marinko Ivankovic, having already committed to support, defend, and protect the children in any way he could. Vicka’s grandma gave them Holy Water which were commonly used for house blessings to protect against evil in these Catholic, Croatian homes.
Vicka once said a favorite expression of her grandmother’s that she had heard often when growing up was, “He is fearful like the devil is of Holy Water!”
Some of the older women had told the visionaries to sprinkle the apparition with the water to see if it would ‘flee’.
On this day Our Lady used a different means to attract the visionaries attention. A brilliant light flashed three times, announcing Our Lady’s arrival. Seeing the light the visionaries began bounding up the mountain, telling Marinko exactly where they were headed so he could keep up with them. They were then, followed by a multitude of children and adults.
Vicka stated, “We ran forward as though on wings. The place is all thorn and stone...it’s awful steep. But we flew like birds. We just flew. Us and the people.”
The children said that on this day they prayed and sang in the apparition. Marinko had told Ivanka to ask the Lady why She has come.
“I have come because there are many true believers here. I wish to be with you to convert and to reconcile the whole world…"
Though Our Lady had told Ivanka that her mother, who had recently died, was in Heaven with Her and happy, Ivanka still longed to know more.
Vicka said that, “Because her mother had died in the hospital and no one was with her, Ivanka had wondered if she had left a message for her children. The Madonna answered,
…Obey your grandmother and help her because she is old."
“Mirjana wanted to know about her grandfather who had recently died.
‘He is well.’
“The visionaries requested a sign for those who don’t see Our Lady to prove that the apparition was really the Gospa.
‘Blessed are those who have not seen and who believe.’
“It was Mirjana who asked the Lady: ‘Who are you?’
‘I am the Blessed Virgin Mary.’
“More questions from the visionaries: ‘Why are you appearing to us? We are no better than others.’
‘I do not necessarily choose the best.’
“‘Will you come back?’
‘Yes, to the same place as yesterday.’
It was now 7:00 in the evening. The apparition had ended and both Mirjana and Ivanka felt faint. Marinko, their ever present guardian cleared a path for them through the crowd, helping them down the mountain. Marija began descending herself. She was half way down when she felt herself mysteriously pushed to the side of the trail by an unseen force. She sees the Virgin again. Our Lady is crying and there is a bare wooden cross behind Her. She gave first message;
”Peace,Peace,Peace. Peace must reign between man and God, and between all people!” ”For that, it is necessary to believe, to pray, to fast, and to go to confession”.
Vicka tells it this way: “She, Marija, is rather swift footed. She went a bit ahead: with us. And suddenly, she as though she was tossed, not knowing how,… was tossed off to the side…There, the Virgin appeared with a big cross to Marija alone. Marija said the Virgin was very sad, and that She spoke to her through tears. Marija was very frightened. She was unable to stand on her feet…At that point, we also arrived. We spotted her and helped her until she got her wits about her. And, slowly we managed to get home.
“It was an overwhelming experience,” said Marija. “I saw the Madonna weeping, and the sight drove me to commit myself totally to Her request. She had come to inspire all of us to search for peace-peace in our own hearts, peace within our families, peace in the world.”
Day three then was an eventful day. From this time forward, three flashes of light would precede each apparition. Our Lady revealed Her identity saying, “I am the Blessed Virgin Mary.” According to Vicka it was pronounced ‘loud and clear’,She revealed why She had come, ‘…to convert and to reconcile’ the whole world. She would say Her Most important message is to call the world to peace.
Returning to their homes, the people gathered outside the homes of the visionaries, waiting to know everything that had happened, what was said, how did Our Lady look. And they stayed, hearing the stories told over and over again, well into the night.