Our Lady appeared in Medjugorje in front of a dark cross and, through tears, called us…
Our Lady appeared in Medjugorje in front of a dark cross and, through tears, called us to peace, leaving this message: “Peace, peace, peace and only peace!” Then she repeated twice: “Peace must reign between God and man, and also among people!” This is one of Our Lady’s most significant messages from the first days of the apparitions in Medjugorje.
A message of peace in the shadow of the cross
The fact that Our Lady gave the message of peace in the shadow of the cross and with a sorrowful expression on her face deserves special attention. This is also true because of the unusual circumstances in which that message was given.
When the encounter of all the visionaries with Our Lady on Podbrdo had already ended and they were heading home, Marija Pavlović was walking a little faster than the others. At one moment, she felt a strong prompting to step slightly aside from the well-trodden path.
At that moment, she saw Our Lady again, but this time standing in front of a large dark cross and speaking as if through tears:
“Peace, peace, peace and only peace!”
Then she repeated twice:
“Peace must reign between God and man, and also among people!”
A moving testimony
Then the other visionaries arrived and immediately noticed that Marija was visibly shaken. Vicka Ivanković testifies about this:
„Ugledali smo Mariju i pošli k njoj. Mi smo mislili da joj je došlo nešto slabo, a ona nam nije mogla odmah ništa o tome pričat, pa nismo pravo znali što joj je.“
(J. Bubalo, Tisuću susreta s Gospom u Međugorju, str. 60)
Marija came to herself only when they reached their homes, and then she told the other visionaries about her experience.
Our Lady: Peace between God and man
It is not insignificant that Our Lady did not place peace among people first, even though at that moment there was much unrest and many wars in the world. Instead, she emphasized the importance of peace between God and man.
Theologically, this is entirely understandable and the only correct way to see it, because it is precisely the lack of peace between God and man that is the greatest cause of hatred, terrorism, and wars that tear today’s world apart.
Therefore, everything must begin within the individual person and in his relationship with God. Whoever asks how God can allow war and its horrors should replace that question with one directed at himself:
Am I, because of the evil within me, at war with God and with other people?
