Ivan of Medjugorje: I tell you how an apparition with the Madonna occurs

Hi Ivan, can you describe us what an apparition of Our Lady is like?

«Vicka, Marija and I have the encounter with the Madonna every day. We prepare ourselves by reciting the rosary at 18 with all the people in the chapel. As the moment approaches, 7 minus 20, I feel more the presence of the Madonna in my heart. The first sign of his arrival is a light, a light of Paradise, a piece of Paradise comes to us. As soon as the Madonna arrives I don't see anything around me anymore: I only see her! At that moment I feel neither space nor time. In every apparition, Our Lady prays with outstretched hands on the priests present; bless us all with his maternal blessing. In recent times, Our Lady prays for holiness in families. Pray in his Aramaic language. Then, a private conversation follows between the two of us. It is difficult to describe what an encounter with the Madonna is like. At each meeting he addresses me with such a beautiful thought that I can live on this word for a day ».

How do you feel after the apparition?

«It is difficult to convey this joy to others. There is a desire, a hope, during the apparition, and I say in my heart: "Mother, stay a little longer, because it is so nice to be with you!". His smile, looking at his eyes full of love ... The peace and joy I feel during the apparition accompany me throughout the day. And when I can't sleep at night, I think: what will Our Lady tell me next day? I examine my conscience and think if my actions were in the will of the Lord, and if Our Lady will be happy? Your encouragement gives me a special charge ».

Our Lady has been sending you messages for more than thirty years. What are the main ones?

«Peace, conversion, return to God, prayer with the heart, penance with fasting, the message of love, the message of forgiveness, the Eucharist, the reading of sacred writing, the message of hope. Our Lady wants to adapt to us and then simplifies them to help us practice them and live them better. When he explains a message, he takes a lot of effort to understand it. The messages are addressed to the whole world. Our Lady never said "dear Italians ... dear Americans ...". Every time she says "Dear my children", because we are all important to her. At the end he says: "Thank you dear children, because you answered my call". Our Lady thanks us ».

Does Our Lady say that we must welcome her messages "with the heart"?

«Together with the message for peace, the most repeated one in these years is the message of prayer with the heart. All other messages are based on these two. Without prayer there is no peace, we cannot recognize sin, we cannot forgive, we cannot love. Praying with the heart, not mechanically, not to follow a tradition, not looking at the clock ... Our Lady wants us to dedicate time to God. To pray with all our being to be a living encounter with Jesus, a dialogue, a rest . Thus we can be full of joy and peace, without burdens in the heart ».

How much does he ask you to pray?

«Our Lady wishes us to pray for three hours every day. When people hear this request they get scared. But when he speaks of three hours of prayer he does not mean only the recitation of the rosary, but also the reading of sacred scripture, Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and family sharing of the Word of God. I add the works of charity and help to the next. I remember that years ago a doubtful Italian pilgrim came about the three hours of prayer. We had a little conversation. The following year she returned: "Does Our Lady always ask for three hours of prayer?". I replied: “You are late. Now he wants us to pray 24 hours. ""

That is, Our Lady asks for the conversion of the heart.

"Exact. Opening the heart is a program for our life, like our conversion. I did not convert suddenly: my conversion is a path to life. Our Lady turns to me and my family and helps us because she wants my family to be a model for others »