Catholic Reflections 2000 Magazine

November 2000 Feature Article (cont.)

PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE
by--Jewell Carter

It had been cloudy all during the climb, but when we were at the top, the clouds parted and the Sun came out several times, and each time we saw this phenomena. Other groups were praising God in loud voices, raising their hands up and glorifying the Lord. What a marvelous experience. Who could fail to believe in Our Lady's messages and the presence of Our Lord after this! Soon, the pilgrimage began to break up and start the trek back down the mountain. Wonder of wonders, my fear was gone though I still experienced problems with my equilibrium and had to be helped. The group of pilgrims at the foot of the mountain gave me a round of applause because I finally completed the climb in spite of my problems. Taxis were waiting at the foot of the mountain to take most of us back to our guesthouses. Some still had enough energy to walk! Not Me!! I rode in a cab!

On Thursday we rested, attended Mass and special services at a nearby cemetery, which entailed a short walk through a beautiful wooded area, packed, attended another Rosary and met that night for a final discussion, sharing and singing. Many individuals, Sophie and Patsy among them, took individual journeys up Apparition Hill or Cross Mountain - such stamina and devotion!

On Friday, we boarded the Coach to begin our return trip. We experienced some very anxious moments when we reached the border. There was a checkpoint, and guards were searching some vehicles and we had to show our passports with visas. Betty warned us to keep silence, and stood and raised her Rosary as a sign for prayer. An extremely anxious moment occurred when the guard took Sophie�s passport and left the bus, and apparently discussed it with the other guards. He returned her passport with no explanation, and the rest of the search passed without event. We saw many convoys, many of them appeared to be French Peacekeepers, pass us on the way inland. Along the way, we saw many bombed out homes and signs of the destruction from the war and what looked to be an entire town on a river that had been destroyed. We have been so fortunate in the U.S. for peace within our nation.

We had overnight stops in Dubrovnik and in Prague. We arrived at both cities at near dark, so we didn't see much. But we were treated to short tours of each city. In Dubrovnik, we celebrated Mass at the beautiful, very old church where the relic of St. Blaise is kept. We purchased pure wax candles here. Dubrovnik is a beautiful place. We stayed at a first class hotel, beautiful. Our main course at dinner was seafood, some of which tasted strange to my American tongue, such as Squid.

On Saturday, we were up extremely early to board a plane to Zagreb where we had a 6-hour layover. The group headed for the chapel on the top floor of the airport building. The priest stated he had no supplies for a Mass, but Our Lord had other plans. A search revealed a supply of wine, hosts and vestments for Mass. So while seated in comfortable chairs, we attended a beautiful Mass. Afterwards, our leader, Betty Urbanovsky, encouraged the priest to pray one last time for all the members in the pilgrimage. Her words "A priest's hands are holy and a priest's hands have power because they change the bread and wine to the body and blood of Jesus Christ at the Mass" still rings in my mind. So, completely unsuspecting of the gift he was about to receive, the priest agreed to bless all. As everyone prepared to go up, a blessed, wonderful feeling of the Holy Spirit filled the room and everyone silently began to pray for the priest with hands stretched out toward him. Each time I tried to put my hands down, I felt a burning sensation in my palms and had to raise my hands to relieve the burning. There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit was very much present in that room and the priest and pilgrims were to be given a very special blessing. As we went up single file for our blessing, some began to be slain in the spirit and others stood behind to catch them as they fell. As one after another fell, the power of the Holy Spirit began to be felt even more. When this blessing was over, the priest was in tears, "Nothing like this has ever happened to me before." We all left that Mass feeling greatly blessed in the Holy Spirit, and full of elation, and we knew this was a culmination of all the blessings received during the pilgrimage.

We arrived in Prague at dusk, in time to tour the outside of the Prague (Praha) Castle, and the downtown square. Some managed a few purchases here. We stayed at a hotel that seemed such a long distance from downtown Prague. On Saturday, we attended Mass at the very old cathedral where the Infant of Prague is kept. This was a very special experience for many. Many were crying. Much restoration was still needed as a result of the neglect during the Communist reign. We learned that the Little Infant had to be hidden, and worship of Our Lord had to be done in secrecy all during the Communist occupation. After Mass, our tour guide led us to - of all places! - McDonalds for a snack. Then we walked partway over a bridge over the river. There were huge statues of St. Michael and of Jesus being taken down from the Cross-and other extraordinary statues. It was strange to us that the Prague guide made no mention of the religious history of Czechoslovakia, or of the statues and their beauty and history.

Suddenly everyone was in a rush! The young tour guide of Prague had misunderstood the departure time; it was an hour earlier than she thought! So we had a mad rush to get back to the bus and an ensuing wild ride to the Airport, where we barely made it in time to board our plane before they closed the doors to any more passengers.

Thus was our journey back home. It was quite an exhilarating and spiritual experience. Some very powerful things happened on that trip, and some are still happening at home because of the petitions that were carried and presented to Our Lady during the pilgrimage.

Immediately at my return home, a good friend who had not seen her son in over a year called to say that he had returned home while we were still on the pilgrimage, had agreed to check into a rehab center. As of this writing he has made great strides in his progress for a recovery, both spiritually and physically. He is working to complete his college education, has a part time job as a counselor and has his own apartment, and is still doing very well. Her petition was one of those buried up on Cross Mountain.

After a time, one of my daughters experienced a tremendous increase in her faith and love for the Lord and is being instrumental in working to get fallen-away Catholics to return to the Church, and to convert others. Prayers are still being offered for my other daughter, and we are confident that with Mary Mother�s intercession she will experience a conversion and return to the fold.

I doubt if I will ever return to Medjugorje, both for physical and financial reasons, but this pilgrimage and its effects will remain with me for a lifetime. If any reader gets an opportunity to go, I recommend you ask The Blessed Mother for guidance and you will know if you need to go. Don�t go expecting luxurious accommodations. Go with the faith that you will receive tremendous blessings, and will find your faith strengthened. You may even experience some miracles in your family, circle of friends, or with your own health. I received no miracle physically. But I know I will always be blessed because of my trip to Medjugorje.

Jewell Carter

Author's Note: Many of us have had "brushes" with God, or a saint and perhaps even with an angel in one form or other or know of someone who has had such experiences. We want to remind the reader that these experiences fall under the category of private revelation and as such these revelations are only binding upon the person(s) receiving them. The Catholic Church states that all that we need to be saved ended with the Age of the Apostles, approximately when the New Testament was finished being written, which ended public revelation. At the same time, each of us is responsible for safeguarding our own personal faith and use discernment toward private revelation. I might add that the Church has approved some apparitions as being "Worthy of Merit". Fatima and the Divine Mercy are two that come to mind. This article falls under the category of private revelation and is offered for your reading enjoyment.

�copyright 2000 Jewell Carter
All rights reserved. No portion of this article
may be used without the express written permission from the author.

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Still Small Voice

A Practical Guide on Reported Revelations Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. Father Groeschel, the highly respected author, psychologist, spiritual director and leader of renewal in the religious life, has written a brief but comprehensive practical guide for all those interested in private revelations, the reports of visions and other extraordinary religious phenomena that are so widespread in these times. Because of the intense interest in extraordinary religious experience that ranges from Medjugorje to the New Age, Groeschel's book is an urgently needed resource that gives practical norms to everyone on how to evaluate these claims. Drawing on spiritual classics and Church documents not readily available, he summarizes the Church's perennial wisdom on this topic. He also offers an alternative to unusual and extraordinary ways of knowing the things of God, which is a normal everyday opportunity open to all called "religious experience"--the action of grace operating in the context of a human life that can become a powerful source of virtue and holiness. Father Groeschel skillfully directs the reader to the humbler and safer path which discerns God's presence in prayer, Scripture, the sacraments and love of neighbor. The great example of this path to holiness is St. Th�r�se of Lisieux who, though having very few extraordinary experiences, was filled with a profound awareness of God's presence and said, "To ecstasy, I prefer the monotony of sacrifice." "A brilliant investigation into a complex and fascinating subject in which the boundaries of mysticism, psychology and spiritual direction intersect. Probably no one is better prepared to provide such sound guidance on this sensitive topic than Fr. Groeschel." -- Robert Fastiggi, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor of Religious Studies St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas "Combining insights from mystical theology and modern psychology, Father Groeschel offers much sound advice for sorting through competing claims of divine revelations. His book is a sophisticated discussion of religious experience and the problems of translating this into public discourses in the context of Roman Catholic theology." -- Sandra Zimdars-Swartz, Professor of Religious Studies University of Kansas "Fr. Groeschel, who is equally competent in theology and psychology, has provided helpful directions in dealing with one of the most serious pastoral problems facing the Church today. A valuable resource for discerning the credibility of these phenomena of miraculous visions and happenings." -- Bishop John Sheets, S.J., Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend Index Sewn Softcover