Much has been circulating in recent days about the reputed apparition site of Medjugorje for two key reasons: speculation on what a Vatican Commission studying the situation may or may not pronounce about it and -- most galvanizing -- word from a seer that for the first time in the history of the official monthly messages from the apparitions, Mary fell silent on the twenty-fifth of the month and instead Jesus addressed the world (standing on her lap, as a newborn).

That has not happened since these monthly messages began in 1987 (before that they were weekly and before that were according to no particular schedule). The question is whether this was simply a special reminder (to focus on Him) or a major turn of events. “Jesus addressed me as the King of Peace," claims the visionary, Marija Pavlović-Lunetti, 47, who now spends much of her time in Italy. "He was a child but these words were spoken with authority, with a voice that remained strong within me. I heard the voice of Jesus as a child. It was not the voice of a child of a few hours. I do not know how to say this. A Jesus who is small, newborn, who addresses us.”

“So Christ is our peace, and He proclaimed peace to those far away and to those near at hand (Ephesians 2:14, 17). How could we now do other than pray to him: Yes, Lord, proclaim peace today to us too, whether we are far away or near at hand."

That was just hours before the apparition.

The Pope -- Christ's vicar -- was invoking Jesus. In that apparition, Jesus proclaimed peace.

And it was extraordinary for a second reason: because another Pope -- his namesake, Benedict XV -- had made a similar, strident plea to Heaven, on May 5, 1917.

"To Mary, then, who is the Mother of Mercy and omnipotent by Grace, let loving and devout appeal go up from every corner of the earth -- from noble temples and tiniest temples, from royal palaces and mansions of the rich as from the poorest hut -- from every place wherein a faithful soul finds shelter -- from blood-drenched plains and seas," that Benedict had said in the midst of war and turmoil. "Let it bear to her the anguished cry of mothers and wives, the wailing of innocent little ones, the signs of every generous heart: that her most tender and benign solicitude may be moved and the peace we ask for be obtained for our agitated world."

Eight days later, Mary had begun appearing at Fatima.

And so now the question: Has the current Pope Benedict, via his Christmas prayer, paved the way, as seemingly did Benedict XV, for something different -- invoked a new manifestation?

Monthly messages in coming months may indicate whether it was simply a special gift or whether Jesus speaking at Medjugorje opens a new time and bears prophetic significance. Other mystics and visionaries have seen Him as a youngster, including Saint Fautina Kowalska -- who, in an experience that may bear a parallel to what has occurred at Medjugorje, recalled that on May 12, 1935, "in the evening, I just about got into bed, and I fell asleep immediately.

"Though I fell asleep quickly, I was awakened even more quickly. A little child came and woke me up. The child seemed about a year old, and I was surprised it could speak so well, as children at that age either do not speak or speak very indistinctly. The child was beautiful beyond words and resembled the Child Jesus..." He went on to say, "True greatness is in loving God and in humility."

After a vision of a soul struggling with a hellish afterlife, Faustina said:

"I again saw the Child Who awakened me. It was of wondrous beauty and repeated these words to me: 'True greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility.' I asked the Child, 'How do you know the true greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility? Only theologians know about such things and you haven't learned the Catechism. So how do you know?' To this He answered, "I know; I know all things." Two paragraphs later Faustina -- famous for the Divine Mercy devotion -- wrote that she "heard these words spoken distinctly and forcefully within my soul: 'You will prepare the world for My final coming.'"