Ivan of Medjugorje describes the light that comes during the apparition of the Madonna

Ivan, the great days of Medjugorje have passed. How did you experience these celebrations?
For me it is always something special when these great days are celebrated. The last two days celebrated in a solemn way, were the pinnacle of what we started with the Novena to prepare for the coming of the Madonna. All these nine days had a great role in the preparation, and the closer we got to June 24 and 25, the more everything that happened at the beginning of the apparitions awoke in me. So I had the opportunity to remember all that was good again, but also the persecutions and constant torments in those years of communism, when we suffered in fear and uncertainty and were beset by all sides.

Do you think it was supposed to be like this today?
It had to be this way and it couldn't have been otherwise. There was pressure everywhere. I myself felt like I was in a state of shock. I was afraid of what would happen. I saw the Madonna, but on the other hand I was not entirely sure. I didn't believe it immediately. The second day, when we started talking to the Madonna, it was already easier and I was ready to give my life for the Madonna.

I was pleased, on the anniversary day, to be able to be present at the apparition you had with Marija. The apparition was a little longer.
The meeting with the Madonna is something special, extraordinary. Yesterday, at the moment of the apparition, he made us remember everything that happened at the beginning; things that hadn't come to my mind in the past nine days, when I personally prepared for His solemn coming. Our Lady made us go back with her words and said to us: "Remember everything, dear children, and especially those particular and difficult days" Then, after all that had been difficult for us, talked about all that was beautiful. It is something great and is the hallmark of a mother who loves all her children.

Tell us something about what was nice for you ...
We six visionaries have experienced those first years of apparitions in a particular way. And what we have lived remains between us and Our Lady. He has always encouraged and comforted us with His words: "Do not be afraid, dear children, I have chosen you and I will protect you". In those moments these words were so important to us that we could not have resisted without these maternal comforting words. This is what Our Lady always reminds us of on 24 and 25 June, and speaks to us about it. I can say that these two days are not normal days.

Ivan, I watched you watch the apparition. I noticed that before the apparition your face is completely different than after ...
I always say that the coming of Our Lady is the coming of divine light on this world. As soon as Our Lady arrives, it is completely normal for this divine light to illuminate us, and we can see the change on our faces. We are transformed thanks to the coming of divine light on earth, it has an influence on us.

Can you still tell us about this Sky, this light?
When Our Lady comes, the same thing is always repeated: first the light comes and this light is a sign of His coming. After the light, the Madonna comes. This light cannot be compared to any other light we see on earth. Behind the Madonna you can see the sky, which is not so far away. I don't feel anything, I only see the beauty of light, of the sky, I don't know how to explain it, a peace, a joy. Especially when the Madonna comes from time to time with the angels, this sky comes even closer to us.

Would you like to stay there forever?
I remember well when Our Lady once led me to heaven and placed me on a hill. It seemed a bit like being at the "blue cross" and below us was the sky. Our Lady smiled and asked me if I wanted to stay there. I replied: "No, no, not yet, I think you still need me, Mother." Then Our Lady smiled, turned her head and we returned to earth.

We are with you in the chapel. You erected this chapel to be able to receive pilgrims in private at the time of the apparition and to have some peace of mind for your personal prayer.
The chapel I have had so far was in my house. It was a room that I had organized for the meeting with the Madonna to take place there. The room was small and there was little room for those who visited me and wanted to be present during the apparition. So I decided to build a larger chapel where I can receive a larger group of pilgrims. Today I am happy to be able to receive larger groups of pilgrims, especially the disabled. But this chapel is not only designed for pilgrims, but is also a place for myself, where I can retire with my family to a corner of spirituality, where we can recite the Rosary without anyone disturbing us. In the chapel there is no Blessed Sacrament, no Masses are celebrated. It is simply a place of prayer where you can kneel at the pews and pray.

Your job is to pray for families and priests. How can you help families who are in very serious temptations today?
Today the situation for families is very difficult, but I who see the Madonna every day, I can say that the situation is not desperate. Our Lady has been here for 26 years to show us that there are no desperate situations. There is God, there is faith, there is love and hope. Our Lady above all wishes to emphasize that these virtues must be at the forefront of the family. Who can live today, in this time, without hope? Nobody, not even those who have no faith. This materialistic world offers many things to families, but if families don't grow spiritually and don't spend time praying, spiritual death begins. However man tries to replace spiritual things with material things, but this is impossible. Our Lady wants to get us out of this hell. All of us today live in the world at a very fast pace and it is very easy to say that we don't have time. But I know that those who love something also find time for it, therefore if we want to follow Our Lady and Her messages, we must find time for God. Therefore the family must pray every day, we must have patience and pray continually. Today it is not easy to gather children for common prayer, with all they have. It is not easy to explain all this to the children, but if we pray together, through this common prayer the children will understand that it is a good thing.

In my family I try to live a certain continuity in prayer. When I am in Boston with my family, we pray early in the morning, at noon and in the evening. When I am here in Medjugorje without my family, my wife does it with the children. In order to do this, we must first overcome ourselves in some things, since we have our cravings and desires.

When we return home tired, we must first of all devote ourselves completely to common family life. After all, this is also the job of the family man. We don't have to say, "I don't have time, I'm tired." We parents, as main members of the family, must be the first, we must be an example for ours in the community.

There are also strong influences from the outside on the family: society, the street, infidelity ... The family is practically wounded in many places. How do the spouses deal with marriage today? Without any preparation. How many of them have personal interests in contracting marriage, personal aspirations? No solid family can be built under such conditions. When the children arrive, many parents are not ready to raise them. They are not ready for new challenges. How can we show our children what is right if we ourselves are not ready to learn it or would test it? In the messages Our Lady always repeats that we must pray for holiness in the family. Today holiness in the family is so important because there is no living Church without living and holy families. Today the family must pray a lot so that love, peace, happiness and harmony can return.

What do you mean at the end of our interview on the occasion of the 26 years of apparitions?
In all these years we have talked about many things with the Madonna, but the Madonna wishes to carry out with us her project and her design, which have not yet come to an end. We must continue to pray and follow the path that you show us. To be truly a living sign, an instrument in His hands and I would offer totally to the grace of God. Yesterday Our Lady underlined just this when she said: "Open yourselves to the grace of God!". In the Gospel it is said that the spirit is strong, but the flesh is weak. Therefore we must always be open to the spirit in order to follow the plan of the Gospel, the plan of Our Lady.