Our Lady Appears...

Last night, my family and I were privileged to attend St. Patrick's Parish nearby, where Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragićević was visiting to give his testimony, and receive an apparition of Our Lady!
The evening began with the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. At the end of the fourth decade, Ivan went to kneel before the altar. Everyone became silent, and after a few minutes, I felt a warmth growing inside of me, later I realized that must have been when Our Lady blessed all of us preasent there in the church.

After the Ivan's vision, we finished the rosary, and we had Mass was celebrated by the Provencal of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. When Mass was finished Ivan told us how the visions began, on July 24th 1981, when he was 16. Ivan was walking with his friend to go watch a basketball game on his friend's television set when Our Lady appeared to them and four others. It was so amazing to hear about the first two apparitions and tell us how Our Lady asks for the increase of prayer of the heart, and to tell us that peace will not come unless the world places God first in their lives.

Ivan said what Our Lady desires is prayer, and told us the following story.
"Once, a lady who was visiting Medjugorje came up to me [Ivan], and said, 'Is Our Lady really asking for 3 hours of prayer a day? That's impossible! That can't be Our Lady!'
I said to her, 'Well, that is what Our Lady is asking for.' A year later, the same lady came back and asked, 'Is Our Lady still asking for 3 hours of prayer a day?'
And I said to her, 'Where have you been? That was a long time ago! Now Our Lady is requesting 24 hours!' And of course, the lady said 'All right, all right, I'll stick with the 3 hours.' How selfish people can sometimes be about praying to God!"

Ivan told us how when his daily apparitions begin. The first thing that he sees in a light that is not of this earth. As Our Lady appears, he becomes oblivious to everything else around; all he can see is her. He said that Our Lady is so beautiful, that words cannot describe her. He said that she wears a white dress and a blue veil. She has rosy cheeks, blue eyes and black hair.

Last night, Ivan said that his vision began with Our Lady blessing all of the priests who were present there, then blessed all those in the congregation. Next, she blessed all of the sick people who were there, then the petitions which were placed before her, and last she blessed all of the things which people had brought with to be blessed. When Ivan told us she had blessed the items, I couldn't help but cry, because earlier during Mass, I had recalled that I had two rosaries with me that were not blessed, and that I really should have them blessed sometime soon. You can imagine my joy when I realized that Our Lady had blessed them!

I would like to let you all know that I placed all of you who visit my blog in the petition basket which Our Lady of Medjugorje blessed last night.

I will close with the words from the back of a holy card I was given last night.

Dear children, I invite you for your individual conversion. This time is for you! Without you God's plan cannot be realized. Dear children grow day by day closer to God through prayer.
I Give You The Weapon Against Your Goliath, Here are Your Little Stones:

1. Prayer with the heart: Rosary
2. Eucharist
3. The Holy Bible
4. Fasting
5. Monthly confession.