By Pearl Tam

When I first decided to go to Medjugorje, I didn't have any expectations. Sure, I knew there was a lot of praying, and I'd probably grow spiritually, but I didn't know that I would witness so many miraculous and wondrous things. I also never thought that my life would change as a result of the Medjugorje experience.

In order to understand why I went to Medjugorje, we have to start at the beginning. My husband had osteoarthritis, and by November 2006 his knees were in such a bad state that the surgeon recommended double-knee replacement surgery as soon as possible. He was reluctant to go through such a drastic step, but I urged him to think "long term". We didn't know it at the time, but he was falling into a depression.

After the surgery and a few months' recuperation, he went back to work. However, his heart and mind were not in it. He sank deeper into his depression, but refused to get help. It became increasingly difficult for him to get through each day. Things came to a head in March 2008, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. He finally took early retirement in August 2008.

Medjugorje needs no defence

By Andrew Yeung

“If this enterprise, this movement of theirs is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will not only be unable to destroy them, you might find yourself fighting against God” (Acts 5:38-39).

Jesus was only a little baby when Herod planned to kill him in Bethlehem. From age 30, he was targeted for destruction by those who did not really know him. The worshippers at a synagogue in Nazareth tried to throw him off a cliff. Later on, many leaders of his own religion persecuted him, laid traps to catch him with tricky questions, and plotted to arrest him for crimes punishable by death. They told lies against him by twisting the facts. They insulted and beat him. “But he remained silent and made no reply” (Mk 14:61). He prayed, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). When they crucified him they thought he was destroyed. On the third day, he rose again. His followers increased and multiplied by the millions over the centuries.

Similar persecutions have been waged against the apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje – first by Communist officials and then by members of the Catholic faith. Like Jesus, Mother Mary forgives all who try to discredit the reality of her daily visits from Heaven. “I am Mother, and even though I feel pain for each one who goes astray, I forgive easily, and am happy for every child who returns to me” (11/14/1985). In the end, her Immaculate Heart will triumph.