Medjugorje Day 7: The Mountain and The Martyrs
Today we climbed Cross Mountain early in the morning. The weather was perfect - sunny and cool. It was a steep and rocky ascent to the top of a mountain where the people of Medjugorje constructed a large stone cross in 1933 in honor of the 1900th Anniversary of Our Lord’s crucifixion.
On the way up the mountain, we prayed the Stations of the Cross, which offered us spiritual focus and physical rest. The meditations were powerful. But helping one another to the top, carefully choosing each step and holding on to one another, was also a powerful part of the experience.
Once to the top, we stopped at the place where Father Slavko died - at the foot of the cross, just after leading the 13th Station. He was 54 years old. The pilgrims with him recalled that he offered a prayer at that Station for “the one among [them] who would be first to die.”
After Cross Mountain, we made our way to the Franciscan monastery in Siroki Brijeg, the place where 30 Franciscans were martyred between 1942 and 1945. They were put to death by the Communists, accused of speaking out against the Partisan regime.
Most of the friars who were martyred were forced into a cave on the property where they were restrained and then burned alive. And we learned today that the oldest among them, Father Marko, was given the ultimatum, “Spit on the cross, and your brothers will be spared.” But he is said to have kissed the cross instead, saying, “Lord, I’ve served you for 80 years. What’s 2 more minutes?”
Father Jozo, the Franciscan parish priest who was pastor of Saint James at the time of the first apparitions, and who was imprisoned for 1 1/2 years for refusing to deny the alleged visions of the children, was assigned to this monastery for a time.
It’s a powerful place. We prayed that the witness of those martyrs would give us courage - the courage the love the Faith in a world that rejects God, and the courage to trust that at the hour of our own death God will give us His grace - the grace to do what would otherwise be impossible for us.
Then, after returning home for lunch, some of our group made their way to the evening program at the church for the Rosary and Adoration, before going to different restaurants and pubs for dinner and drinks.
I helped with Confessions along the walls of the church of Saint James for hours and hours. It was really special. The Confessions here in Medjugorje are often signs of the sincere conversion happening in people’s hearts. Not seldom will someone say it’s been very many years since their last Confession.
Today was a beautiful day for us.
Here is the point for meditation that we shared before the Mass, continuing with our theme of the parts of the Mass.
Tomorrow, we’ll be making our way to the English speaking Mass at Saint James, before attending a conference being given by the Dominican priest, Father Leon. Some of you will recognize him from YouTube.
One quick spiritual connection I’d like to share with you here: The rocks on Cross Mountain are so precarious and dangerous that helping a person to climb it means taking a difficult passage yourself so as to give the other person a safer route. It’s treacherous for the helper, but it’s beautiful too. The lives of the martyrs are similar; they took a treacherous path in order to give firm footing to our faith.
I’m very tired now - going to bed. +
