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The tiny village of Medjugorje in what is now Bosnia & Herzegovina (formerly Yugoslavia) remains one of the visited places in Europe for Catholic pilgrims, attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year….an estimated 35 million since the apparitions were first reported in 1981.  It still lacks Vatican approval, however, and still has many detractors as well, which makes it somewhat controversial.

It was assumed that Pope John Paul II was a believer in the apparitions and he reportedly asked to fly over the village whenever traveling in that area. With his devotion to our Blessed Mother, Pope Francis might be assumed to be favorable toward the apparitions as well, since when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires he approved the visits of one of the visionaries (Ivan) to his diocese.   Back in the late 1990’s he received Fr. Jozo, who was parish priest at the time the apparitions were first reported.  It was reported that he asked Father Jozo to bless him during his visit.

A new development is the announcement this week that he has granted an audience to a delegation from Medjugorje that includes the pastor of the parish as well as other priests here.  We wonder if the decision might be near to grant Medjugorje Shrine status.  It is not quite approval of the apparitions themselves, but certain a step along that road.

If you are not in Rome right now, you can still watch the special prayer viigil that Pope Francis will be leading on Saturday September 7.  It will be televised on Vatican TV and also EWTN.

Here is the schedule as far as we know it:

5:45 pm Priests will begin hearing confession in designated areas under the Bernini colonnades. Pope Francis has asked that the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) be made available throughout the evening because “true peace springs from a heart that is reconciled with God and one’s brothers and sisters.”

6:30 pm  A reader will read Pope Francis’ September 1 Angelus address in which he called for the Day of Prayer and Fasting for peace.

7:00 pm Vigil begins when the Pope will greets the crowd and the ancient hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” is sung, followed by Marian prayer to Our Lady Queen of Peace

– The Marian icon “Salus Populi Romani” (health or protection of the Roman people) is carried by four Swiss Guards from the obelisk in the center of the square while two girls carry bouquets of flowers.

– Pope Francis will lead the recitation of the Rosary, which will include readings from the poetry of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. 

Afterward a reflection will be offered by Pope Francis

– Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

– Office of Readings. John 20:19-29  (25 minutes of prayerful silence, music)

– Eucharistic benediction

The event is expected to end at 11:00 p.m.

We ask everyone to pray for the Christians in Egypt.  They have been there since the First Century but make up only about 10% of the population.  The violent terrorists know as Muslim Brotherhood are burning churches and monasteries throughout the country.