How to Make a Pilgrimage to Medjugorje
Are you interested in a pilgrimage to Medjugorje? I am not suprised. Medjugorje is one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage destinations. And, it is one of my dearest places on Earth!
Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a famous Marian pilgrimage site. It is the apparition place of Our Lady of Medjugorje, the Queen of Peace, and a place of deep inner peace, felt by pilgrims.
About 1,000,000 people make a pilgrimage to Medjugore every year. And, about 50,000,000 people have visited Medjugorje since 1981, when the apparitions of the Virgin Mary started.
If you are thinking of a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, do not think much about it. Make it! Many blessings are to come!
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLAIMER FOR MORE INFO.
Planning a pilgrimage to Medjugorje
I am lucky to have been born in southern Croatia, only a 30-minute drive from Medjugorje. And I am fortunate to have been visiting Medjugorje regularly since my early childhood in the 1980s.
If you are considering a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, here is my guide to pilgrimage to Medjugorje.
But first, let me explain what Medjugorje is, and what has been happening in Medjugorje since 1981. I will also explain how to get to Medjugorje, what to see in Medjugorje, what to do in Medjugorje, where to stay in Medjugorje, and the best time to visit Medjugorje.
What is Medjugorje
Medjugorje is a small town in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, close to the border with Croatia.
The town is only 20 minutes from the southern border of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.
Medjugorje is 15 mi (25 km) from Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and 78 mi (126 km) from Dubrovnik (Croatia).
Medjugorje was a small village until 1981 when the apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje started attracting millions of pilgrims.
Since 1981, Medjugorje has become the third most popular Marian pilgrimage destination by the number of pilgrims (following only Lourdes and Fatima) and one of the most famous Catholic pilgrimage destinations.
Once a small village unknown to the world, the present-day Medjugorje is a famous place of prayer, healing, and miracles. Medjugorje is a place of faith and peace.
The History of Medjugorje apparations
A lady with a baby in her arms (later acknowledged as the Virgin Mary) appeared to six kids on a small and rocky hill (called the Apparition Hill now) in Medjugorje parish on June 24, 1981. The kids got scared and immediately left the place.
But, curious and somehow hoping to see her again, they returned to the site the next day (June 25, 1981). She appeared (without a baby in her arms this time), again. The kids instantly kneeled and started praying and talking with her.
On the third day, June 26, 1981, the kids came to the hill again and the lady appeared to them again. On that day she represented herself as the Virgin Mary. And, gave the message of peace for time: ‘Peace, peace, peace – and only peace! Peace must reign between God and man and between men!‘
Their meeting happened again on the next day, June 27, 1981.
On June 28, 1981, their meeting attracted around 15,000 people to the Apparation site. The unusual events draw the attention of police and public authorities. The kids were medically examined in a hospital in the nearby city of Mostar. The medical findings showed the kids were sane and healthy.
On June 30, 1981, the Virgin Mary appeared to the kids, again. But not on the original apparition site, but on a new site on the same hill. That site was only 0.6 mi (1 km) from the original site. Today the famous Blue Cross stands on that site.
Medjugorje Apparitions today
The Apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje have been happening since June 1981 till today. Three visionaries have daily apparitions, and three visionaries have once a year. Vicka Ivanković, Marija Pavlović, and Ivan Dragičević have daily apparitions. Mirjana Dragičević have the apparation on March 18, Ivanka Ivanković on June 25 and Jakov Čolo on December 25.
Medjugorje visionaries
Six Medjugorje visionaries are Vicka Ivanković, Ivan Dragičević, Marija Pavlović, Mirjana Dragičević, Ivanka Ivanković, and Jakovo Čolo.
Each of them has a praying mission.
The mission of Vicka Ivanković is to pray for the sick. Ivan Dragičević prays for priests, families, and the youth. Marija Pavlović prays for souls in purgatory. Mirjana Dragičević prays for unbelievers. Ivanka Ivanković prays for families. Jakov Čolo prays for the sick.
Our Lady of Medjugorje entrusted them secrets, as well. Some secrets have been revealed over time, and some are to be revealed yet.
The Medjugorje phenomenon is unique and unexplainable. And not without controversies.
The religious authorities (the Vatican) and the secular authorities have been investigating the phenomenon and following the related events. Despite the ongoing investigations, the Vatican officially approved pilgrimages to Medjugorje on May 12, 2019.
Nobody can deny that Medjugorje is a place of prayer, peace, and miracles (unexplainable medical recoveries, healings, conversions, etc.).
The main message of Our Lady of Medjugorje
The main message of Our Lady of Medjugorje is the reconciliation with God.
Our Lady of Medjugorje gives 5 ‘tools’ for it:
- prayer,
- fasting (twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays),
- reading of the Bible (daily),
- confession (once a month, at least), and
- the Eucharist (on Sundays, at least).
What to see in Medjugorje
The three main sites in Medjugorje are the church of St James the Grater, the Apparition Hill, and the Cross Mountain.
1. The church of St James the Grater
St James church will most likely be the first place you will see and visit in Medjugorje. It is the parish church of Medjugorje, located in the center of the town. Holy masses (often in several different languages) are held in the church daily. Franciscan Friars run Medjugorje parish.
The church of St James in Medjugorje is disproportionally big to the size of Medjugorje. The original church was built in 1892, rebuilt, and consecrated to St James the Greater in 1969.
An interesting fact is that the church was consecrated to St James the Grater, the saint patron of pilgrims. The church was enormous for the tiny village which Medjugorje was at that time. Who knew that the church would get millions of pilgrims many years later?
The church of St James the Grater in Medjugorje can receive over 2,000 people. A grand outdoor altar behind the church was added in 1989. The praying area around the outdoor altar has 5,000 seats. In addition, the area for silent prayers and confessional areas are around the church. There are 25 confessionals on the sides of the church.
Medjugorje is nicknamed the Confessional of The World.
Pilgrims often get suddenly emotionally moved in Medjugorje and seek immediate reconciliation with God. Thus, long lines of people who wait for the confession in front of confessionals are a usual scene in Medjugorje, especially on some feast days, such as June 25 (the Apparition anniversary) and August 15 (the Annunciation Day). If you visit Medjugorje on a feats day, you can see the world’s largest outdoor confessional area.
Hundreds of priests sit on chairs around the church and listen to thousands of confessions those days.
2. The statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje
A marble statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje, the Queen of Peace, stands on the right side in front of St James church.
The statute welcomes the believers to the church of St James the Grater.
Dino Felici, a famous Italian artist made it. He also made Our Lady of Medjugorje statue on the Apparition Site on Apparition Hill.
4. The Candle Park
Candle Park next to the church of St James is a silent prayer area. Pilgrims can sit there, lit their candles, and pray in silence.
The Candle Park is on the right side of St James church in Medjugorje,
5. The Risen Christ statue
The 30-foot statue of the Risen Christ is a famous 30-foot statue known for the liquid that miraculously drops from its right knee. Physicists found that the drops are similar to human tears but have not been able to explain the phenomenon. Pilgrims often take the miraculous drops from the statue with their handkerchiefs.
The Risen Christ statue is only several meters behind St. James church.
6. Via Domini
The Via Domini is a path with beautiful mosaics showing the scenes of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. Pilgrims often walk the Via Domini and pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary along their way up.
The Via Domin path is behind the church in Medjugorje.
7. The information center Peace (Mir in Croatian)
The information center Peace serves pilgrims with all the needed info. It connects them with guides and makes meetings with priests in Medjugorje and sometimes even with one of a visionary if available. It also serves as the registration center for pilgrims.
The information center Peace in Medjugorje has also the Archives (that collect the files of reported healings and press reports about Medjugorje), and the Library (of books about Medjugorje).
The information center Peace is on the left side of the church of St James.
7. The Apparition Hill
The hill on which Our Lady of Medjugorje appeared for the first time is a 6-minute drive (or a 30-minute walk) from the church of St James the Grater in Medjugorje.
The Apparition Hill is officially called Podbrdo Hill. The hill is in Bijakovići hamlet in Medjugorje parish.
The Apparition Site and the Blue Cross are the two main sites.
Two paths lead to the Apparition Site. The Apparition Site is where Our Lady of Medjugorje appeared to the kids on the first days. The Blue Cross marks the site where Our Lady of Medjugorje appeared to the kids afterward.
Bas reliefs showing the scenes of the Rosary are along the paths. Carmelo Puzzola, an Italian artist, made the bas-reliefs.
The reliefs with the scenes of Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary are along one path.
On this path, you can see a wooden cross. It is on the site where Marija Pavlović got the first peace message: ‘Peace, peace, peace, and only peace! Peace must reign between men and God and among people along this path.
The wooden cross is opposite the second Joyful station.
The bronze reliefs of the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary are along the other path, which starts at the Blue Cross.
Pilgrims often climb the Apparition Hill on one path and go down the Apparition Hill on another path.
A climb to the Apparition Hill is a moderate hike. It takes 30 min on average to reach the Apparition Site. However, pilgrims usually pray the Rosary and stop next to the Rosary stations. Thus, the climb takes a bit longer.
Note: Comfortable walking shoes are a must-have for climbing the Appariation Hill!
8. The Apparition Site on the Apparition Hill
A white statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje, the Queen of Peace, stands on the Apparition site.
Dino Felici, a renowned Italian artist, made the statue.
9. The Blue Cross on the Apparition Hill
The Blue Cross marks the site where Our Lady of Medjugorje appeared to the kids on June 30, 1981 (the day when police blocked the kids from going to the original Apparation site).
It is also where the visionary Mirjana typically has apparitions on the 2nd day of each month.
The Blue Cross is at the foot of Podbrdo Hill.
10. The Cross Mountain
The Mountain of the Cross (or Križevac mountain in Croatian) is a mountain with a colossal cross on its top.
The cross from Cross Mountain overlooks Medjugorje.
Villagers of Medjugorje built the cross in 1933. The cross has a relic from the original Cross of Jesus Christ. Pope Pius XI gave the relic to the villagers of Medjugorje.
The Cross Mountain is a 5-minute drive (or a 25-minute walk) from the church of St James the Grater. The Cross Mountain is also a 10-minute drive (or one-hour walk) from Apparition Hill.
A climb to the Cross Mountain is a moderate hike. It takes 40 min to reach the top on average. The 14 bas-reliefs showing the Stations of the Cross are along the path to the top. Pilgrims usually contemplate the Way of Cross along the bas-relief stations.
11. The site of the death of Fr Slavko Barbarić
Fr Slavko Barbarić was a famous Catholic priest from Medjugorje parish. He worked with pilgrims from 1982 until 2000, the year he died.
Fr Slavko Barbarić was a popular speaker and writer about the happenings in Medjugorje. He spread the message of Medjugorje by giving speeches globally and wrote several books about the Medjugorje phenomenon. He led hundreds of hinders of Catholic retreats.
Fr Slavko Barbarić also led pilgrims to Cross Mountain every Friday for many years. On Friday, November 24, 2000, on his way down Cross Mountain, he suddenly stopped, sat down, and passed away.
Today, a marker is on the site where he died. The site is just a few meters below the top of Cross Mountain. Pilgrims often stop at this site and pray.
The best time to visit Medjugorje
Medjugorje in southern Herzegovina has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers.
Medjugorje is most visited from April to October. Christmastime, New Year’s Eve Celebration, and Easter time are popular for visiting Medjugorje.
Thousands of pilgrims come to Medjugorje on feast days such as June 25 (the Anniversary of Medjugorje apparitions), July 25 (the Feast of St. James, the Patron Saint of Medjugorje parish), and August 15 (the Assumption of Virgin Mary).
Medjugorje Youth Festival ‘Mladifest’, which happens in the first week of August every year and lasts five days, is also one of the most-attended events in Medjugorje. About 50 thousand people and 500 priests worldwide come to Mladifest every year.
How to get to Medjugorje
1. From Mostar Airport to Medjugorje
Mostar Airport (OMO) is the nearest airport to Medjugorje.
It is only 11 mi ( 17 km) away.
However, it is a small airport and does not have many flights.
Check out the flights to Mostar Airport and if you can find a suitable flight from your destination, great! Book it!
a. from Mostar Airport you can take a taxi to Medjugorje.
b. you can rent a car at Mostar Airport and head to Medjugorje by car.
c. you can go to the city of Mostar from Mostar Airport by an airport shuttle bus. Visit Mostar and take a day tour from Mostar to Medjugorje.
2. From Split International Airport to Medjugorje
Split International Airport (SPU) in Croatia is 2 hours from Medjugorje. It is a fairly well-connected airport to many international destinations. Check your flights to Split International Airport.
a. you can take a taxi to Medjugorje from Split International Airport. (It is an expensive option!)
b. you can rent a car at Split Airport and head to Medjugorje by car.
c. you can go from Split Airport by an airport shuttle bus to the city of Split first. Visit Split and take a tour from Split to Medjugorje. You can visit Medjugorje and Mostar on this day trip or choose a 9–day pilgrimage to Medjugorje, with a magical Bosnia–Herzegovina tour.
3. From Dubrovnik Airport to Medjugorje
Dubrovnik International Airport(DBV) in Croatia is a 2-and-a-half-hour drive from Medjugorje. Dubrovnik Airport is well-connected to many European destinations, and a few in the US. Check your flight connections to Dubrovnik International Airport!
a. you can rent a car at Dubrovnik Airport and head to Medjugorje by car.
c. you can go from Dubrovnik Airport by an airport shuttle bus to Dubrovnik first. Visit Dubrovnik and join a group day tour from Dubrovnik to Medjugorje, or take a private day tour from Dubrovnik to Medjugorje.
4. From Sarajevo International Airport to Medjugorje
Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) is within a 3-hour drive from Medjugorje. The airport has good flight connections with international destinations.
Flying to Sarajevo is a good option for exploring Bosnia-Herzegovina on a road trip. Check out the flights to Sarajevo Airport!
a. you can rent a car at Sarajevo International Airport and head to Medjugorje by car.
b. you can go from Sarajevo Airport by an airport shuttle bus to Sarajevo first. Visit Sarajevo and take a day tour from Sarajevo to Medjugorje.
Where to stay in Medjugorje
Hotel Grace – This is a 4-star hotel in the center of Medjugorje. The hotel is a 2-minute walk from St James church in Medjugorje. Hotel Grace has an excellent on-site restaurant and free parking.
Recommended read
YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:
