Saturday came and with it, new trials for the six children and their families. That afternoon the local government authorities had the children picked up and brought to the police station in near by Citluk for questioning.
The children never wavered in their testimony, even before the police. They had seen the Virgin Mary up on Podbrdo, in their village of Medjugorje. In an attempt to have them labeled “mentally unfit,” they were sent to be examined by the doctor on duty. Ivan was the first to be called in and an entire hour had passed before the doctor came out to call the next one. By this time it was getting late in the afternoon. Due to Vicka’s insistence, the doctor released them. He later stated that he had found the children to be normal, well-balanced and healthy. The time was 6 p.m. All but Ivan, jumped in a taxi and headed back to Medjugorje for the apparition. Ivan’s mother, seeing trouble beginning to rise with the authorities, asked her son to stay, that evening, at home. By 6:30 p.m, the other five children were at the foot of the hill ready to ascend. Mirjana, Ivanka and Vicka began going up together, while Marija and Jakov waited down below looking up towards the hill. Suddenly, Marija saw a light. A Franciscan priest, who was walking with them, reported the following:
Marija and Jakov were walking with me when suddenly Marija’s face flushed scarlet. “Look! Look! Look!” she said. Jakov said nothing, but together they ran ahead at what seemed to be a superhuman speed. Marija was wearing a white blouse and red skirt, so I could see her distinctly as she ran, almost seeming to fly. It was impossible to keep up with her.
Reaching the top, Marija found herself standing in front of Our Lady, alone without the other visionaries. But then the Blessed Mother disappeared leaving Marija with a puzzled look on her face.
Jakov, who had not seen the light, joined the other three visionaries and Marija soon discovered them as well. It was not such an easy task for the visionaries to find each other on the hill as each day, the number of people present for the apparition increased. In fact, as the apparitions continued, often the visionaries were separated from each other. But when the light flashed, announcing Our Lady’s arrival, no matter where they were on the hill…the six came together.
As the visionaries began to sing and pray together, the people joined them, pressing all the more closer to them. Those closest to the visionaries, seeing the expressions change on their faces, realized the apparition was taking place and moved more tightly in towards the children. The children, while still in ecstasy, began to excitedly tell the people to move, as the children were shocked to see them stepping on the Blessed Mother’s long veil, but the crowds were out of control and wouldn’t listen. Our Lady then disappeared a second time. Marinko with a handful of villagers made a circle around the visionaries to help control the crowd. Our Lady re-appeared, but again disappeared when another boy stepped on Her veil. The visionaries noticed that Our Lady hadn’t said goodbye, which had been Her custom. They began praying again, hoping that Our Lady would return. But when She did not, they began to move back down the hill.
That day on the mountain, the visionaries asked Our Lady several questions.
“Jakov wanted to know what the Virgin expected of the Franciscans in Medjugorje.
‘Have them persevere in the faith and protect the faith of the people.’
“Mirjana and Jakov were concerned because the people were treating them like liars. They asked Our Lady to leave a sign for the people.
‘My angels, do not be afraid of injustices. They have always existed.’
“The visionaries wanted to know: ‘How must we pray?’
‘Continue to recite The Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be seven times, but also add the Creed…
Meanwhile, Ivan had felt very dejected, not being on the hill this evening. He had left his house, to go a short distance towards the hill and it was there, on the side of the road, that Our Lady appeared to him. “She greeted him, told him to be at peace and to take courage, and then smiled as She left him. Vicka was asked if perhaps Our Lady faulted him for not being present with the rest of the visionaries. She replied, “No, no. None of you know how kind the Virgin is and how She understands us. She told him to be at peace and to have courage. She bade him farewell and departed.”
As the five seers descended the mountain together, Our Lady appeared once more to them, to their delight. She greeted them and said, “Farewell my angels. Go in the peace of God!” And for the last time on this day Our Lady disappeared.
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