A Protestant in Medjugorje sees the Madonna

A Protestant sees the Madonna (Sister Emmanuel)

Admittedly, Barry is a tough guy. His wife Patricia? A treasure of delicacy and I suspect that you pray without interruption, so much is the light that emanates. From native England she often came to quench her thirst at the source of Medjugorje and to entrust her Protestant husband to the Gospa. How wonderful it would be if one day he too could discover the joy of walking with the Living God! Although baptized a Protestant, Barry did not believe in God and proudly did without him. However, an old memory lay deep in his heart: as a young man, he once addressed a prayer to God in a moment of great suffering: "Send me a good wife!" At that moment he was in the car and had to stop near an unknown house for a breakdown. The young woman who came out of it impressed him so much that he married her three months later! However, he had forgotten to thank that unknown God who had quickly granted him such a happy marriage. There was only one mole: Patricia was Catholic. Barry went out of his way to destroy his faith, but quickly realized that he was on dangerous ground there. But, in her forties, Patricia is tormented by a very hard spiritual isolation, in the womb of a materialistic and unenthusiastic England. It was then that Medjugorje saved her from drift and offered her what she no longer dared to dream: take a bath in the heart of God, in a place where heaven touches the earth every day! In conversation with her, I marveled at her incredible trust in Providence. He knew that all his relatives would convert, in the hour decided by God. Just then the war broke out in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the evening of January 1993, XNUMX, Barry and Patricia watch television and hear the appeal launched by the Medjugorje Appeal association: thirty drivers are required to bring tons of goods to Bosnia. Without knowing that Patricia knew Bernard Ellis, a Jewish convert in Medjugorje, a key man in the whole organization, Barry lets himself be tempted by the challenge and tells his wife that he is very keen to embark on this adventure, given that he has a license for trucks . Patricia doesn't believe her ears! Bernard had predicted that part of the trucks would go to Medjugoije and part to Zagreb. Two weeks later, accompanied by Patricia, our Protestant enters Medjugorje behind the wheel of a truck! His only concern: bringing relief to refugees. The first night he is called to serve and in the morning, while returning to his room at the foot of the Krizevac to find his wife, Patrizia has disappeared! Barrv exits the terrace and sees the church in the middle of the valley. His eyes go to the two towers that skyrocket and, strangely, he feels an irresistible attraction towards this church. A thought comes over his head: "I have to go into that church to say a prayer." Barry no longer recognizes himself. Say a prayer, he, completely atheist ?! Saying a prayer even if God doesn't believe if after death there is only a black hole for everyone? The head no longer works! But stronger than he is, Barry sets off with a sure step towards the church. A practical question arises: what prayer can he say? He only knows two: the Our Father who learned at school and the Ave Maria who ended up learning by listening to his wife who taught her to her children. Which one to choose? Arriving at the church, he realizes that it is cleaning time and he discreetly puts himself on the bench at the back. He decides to say the two prayers and then remains there in silence for five minutes; then he decides to go and clean his truck. There he sees a Franciscan and gives him his rosary. Later she returns to her room, where Patricia has not yet returned, and decides to rest a little. Since there is a lot of light, he raises the blanket to cover his face, but a blue light blinds him. Do you think the blanket is badly placed and readjusted in a different way. The blue light only intensifies, it invades the whole room and Barry begins to find it strange. An even brighter white spot appears in the blue; the stain gradually approaches him and grows visibly. Heaven, what's going on? "The spot of white light has become very clear" will tell Barry, and the light was Mary, the Mother of God, I saw her, I knew it was her. The blue light turned into rays that started from her. How beautiful she was! I wasn't scared at all, I looked at her fascinated. I knew who was in front of me. Then you raised your hand and greeted me with a sign. He didn't say anything. Then she left. I sat down to inspect the room, a scent of roses floated in the air and I felt unimaginable peace in my whole person. Even in my body! I could only repeat: “Why me? Why to me?

I thought about all the bad deeds of my life .. despite everything, Maria had appeared to someone like me. Soon after Patricia came back, and I told him everything. She was out of her mind! He wanted me to become a Catholic on that same day, he invited me to go to church with her, and I kept thinking, why me? When the moment of communion arrived, Patrizia suggested that I come and take the blessing from the priest. Having my arms crossed in front of my chest made it clear that I could not take communion. The priest, without paying attention, kept the host pressed against my mouth and I had to receive the Body of Christ. I was so upset that I couldn't stop my tears from running. You should have seen the tough guy crying like a baby! What a day! On the way back I met a pilgrim who said to me: "I've always been a Catholic, I often come here, I've never seen or heard anything!" But for me who was coming for the first time, who never set foot in church, in one day it happened to me: 1) to enter a church, 2) to say a prayer, 3) to receive a rosary, 4) to see Our Lady, 5) to receive the body of her Son Jesus !!! Back in England, I decided to go to mass with Patricia and I gradually discovered the prayer ... the sincere prayer! I continued to organize humanitarian convoys for Bosnia and once we even transported the visionary Ivan on the London - Medjugorje journey! At the time of the apparition we got on our knees in the truck ... In my heart I had a great desire to see the Madonna again. Bernard later asked me to drive a pilgrim bus. I traded food for a load of brothers and sisters. On the way we stopped at a hotel on the border with Slovenia. Immediately after dinner, jump the current! I go up to look for an electric battery in the room and, while going back to the hall, I feel compelled to sing a hymn to Maria. Then the whole group starts singing with me and then launches into a spontaneous prayer. Praise invades the whole hotel! Maria appeared to my eyes again at that very moment, as in Medjugorje, with that blue halo around her. I was the only one to see it. I realized then that I hadn't done anything for her yet, done nothing for God, despite the many graces received. When Maria wants something (or someone!) She won't let go! I felt that she was calling me to draw nearer to her and her Son Jesus; I had to get involved with her. So I decided to join the Catholic Church. Patricia found me a wonderful guide. For months I continued the pilgrimages to Medjugorje as a driver and Patricia helped me. I had the secret desire that among my "passengers", some could have the happiness of seeing the Madonna and I was immediately granted; four pilgrims saw it on the Podbrdo hill. I joined the Catholic Church on Easter 1995. Since then the Lord has called us, Patricia and me, to work for him in our parish and diocese, where there is the Shrine of Walsingham. Mary began to bring all kinship back to Her Son. Our two children have converted and also other atheistic relatives. He has already reconciled many couples and we have good hopes for others. For my part, I am engaged in a group that helps those who want to become Catholics. I am available for all that the Lord and his Mother will want from me; I gradually grow in their love.

Source: WHY THE LADY APPEARS IN MEDJUGORJE By Father Giulio Maria Scozzaro - Catholic Association of Jesus and Mary .; Interview with Vicka by Father Janko; Medjugorje the 90s of Sister Emmanuel; Maria Alba of the Third Millennium, Ares ed. … and others ….
Visit the website http://medjugorje.altervista.org