An unusual message from the apparition site of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovina once more has focused attention on what may be heading our way in the future.

Every indication from Medugorje is considered important because so few have been issued in recent years and because the apparitions have by far the largest following since those in 1917 at Fatima, Portugal.

Unlike Fatima, however, the Church has not yet ruled on Medjugorje and the Vicar General of Sarajevo, Father Mato Zovkic, told Spirit Daily two years ago that there will be no official determination on the famous apparitions until long after they have ended. It is in a national committee of bishops that the decision will reside, with the Cardinal of Sarajevo -- for whom Father Zovkic speaks -- as the central authority. The committee was given the task of ruling on Medjugorje after the authority to do so was taken away from the Bishop of Mostar.

Currently three of the six seers still claim daily visitations of the Blessed Mother with the three others experiencing occasional ones.

On December 2 one of the visionaries, Mirjana Dragicivec Soldo, whose daily apparitions ended in 1982, received her monthly apparition under the green tent of the Cenacle Community in Medjugorje. For years, on the second day of the month, Our Lady has been appearing to Mirjana in order to intercede for the non-believers. "Usually, Mirjana does not communicate a message following the apparitions of the second of the month," notes a Medjugorje news site. "But this month, to everyone's surprise, Mirjana wrote the message she had received and she asked that it would be translated right there, in front of the people present."

The text of the message was a stark plea unlike the sedate and sanguine teachings which are more the standard fare. "I need you!" Mirjana claims the Blessed Mother pleaded. "I am calling you! I need your help! Reconcile with yourself, with God, with your neighbors. In this way you will help me. Convert the non-believers. Wipe the tears from my face!"

The tone of such a message and the fact that it comes from Mirjana may bear significance. It was to Mirjana that the Queen of Peace (as she is known as Medjugorje) issued some of her most serious predictions in famous "secrets," the precise contents of which remain just that: secret.

Mirjana has described the predictions in general terms, however, and they are known to contain what she says are a series of major "warnings" to the world, including a "great sign" and chastisements "for the sins of the world." We submit this all for your discernment.

It has been nearly five years since Mirjana received a similarly pleading message. On January 2, 2000, the Virgin allegedly told Mirjana, "Never as much as today, my heart needs your help. I, your mother, am asking my children to help me realize that for which the Father has sent me. He sent me in your midst because His love is great. At this great and holy time in which you have entered, pray in a special way for those who have not experienced the love of God. Pray and wait!" [this is a composite from two separate translations].

About a year later another seer from Medjugorje, Marija Pavlovic Lunetti, who receives the monthly message dispatched on the 25th of each month, released one that described Satan as "unchained" in the world. This was the last time a message of such a serious nature has been publicly issued from the seers -- who usually dissuade all questions related to prophecy and have been a model of reserve.

Whether the next message -- on Christmas Day -- will depart from its normally sedate holiday greeting is of course yet to be seen.

"'Wipe the tears from my face!'" notes the website in an analysis of the most recent message. "What a cry for help! As Our Lady says, Christmas is 'the day of joy,' but during this Christmas season, will there still be tears on the face of the Mother of God? Let's ask ourselves: how are we going to fill her with joy, and with her help, fill with joy the Infant Jesus at the time of His birth? How can we prepare for Jesus this warm space where He can rest peacefully in our home?"

The message was also of interest in light of the regular monthly message on November 25, in which the Blessed Mother, speaking again to Lunetti, reportedly said, "Dear children! At this time, I call you all to pray for my intentions. Especially, little children, pray for those who have not yet come to know the love of God and do not seek God the Savior. You, little children, be my extended hands and by your example draw them closer to my Heart and the Heart of my Son. God will reward you with graces and every blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."

12/21/04