How Our Lady changed my life

My life had a new beginning because of Međugorje. That beginning was full of pain, suffering and doubt. But it was all gone like a bad dream when a massive grace was granted to me- it was Light, it was Love. And when I had this reawakening, I bore witness and said publicly – yes, Our Lady is here

A quarter of a century ago, the world famous Franciscan Father Jozo Zovko was Parish Priest in Međugorje. It was at the time of the first Apparitions. Today Fr. Jozo is at the monastery of Široki Brijeg and daily receives hundreds of pilgrims from Međugorje. There are often celebrities among them, actors like Jim Caviezel and Martin Sheen, or the members of The Kelly Family (music) group. Fr. Jozo always has something new to tell us, not only about Međugorje but sometimes details on world news too. He always has some piece of news that is hitherto unknown. So too, for our magazine: that is, during this interview, he revealed to us that actually on the first day of the apparitions of Our Lady, he himself had ‘a curious meeting'.

- “At that time I was Parish Priest in Međugorje, but in the days of the first apparitions I was about 500 kilometers away in the northwest, in the vicinity of Zagreb, Croatia. On that very day, June 24th a spiritual retreat that had lasted a few days finished. When it ended, I went to Zagreb . As soon as I arrived they told me that there was an older priest, returning from the USA , looking for me. I did not know the man at all and was wondering what he wanted me for. I got the answer that in fact he was looking for the Parish Priest of Međugorje” – Fr. Jozo recalls and tells of this interesting event for us.

“I must admit that what followed seemed a bit funny to me at that time, but today it appears fascinating. He told me about a dream he had had when in the USA . He dreamed about my parish-and not just that, he dreamed about Međugorje and Our Lady! He was so impressed by the dream that he felt an urge to write it down. When he told me that, he handed me the letter with this dream described. So we met on the very day when Our Lady appeared down there! And of course I did not know anything about it at the time. But the real shock followed when I came to the parish three days later. Had the old priest's dream been a revelation? Just like St. Joseph when he heard “Take the Child and run to Egypt !” That was the first thing that struck me when I got to Međugorje. But I couldn't say it to anyone. I just had to keep going. The events accelerated and there was no time to stop” –says Father Jozo.

• How come you did not have the faintest idea about what was going on in Your Parish?

- Because the telephone lines were out of order due to the storm which hit Međugorje just before the apparitions began. I was very surprised when I came back and heard what was going on. I saw that my little parish was crowded with people.

I asked for a meeting with the visionaries, and also with those who claimed to have had miraculous healings. I was open, but reserved too, I was afraid of being influenced, like some of the priests were. I wanted to keep a certain distance in order to be capable of sound reasoning, to listen to the children and evaluate their statements. I kept recording the children, and listening to the tapes night after night. Ivan was very reserved, Vicka was brave, Mirjana was very eloquent... I thought that it could have been projection on the part of Ivanka, because her mother had died a month previously.

• Did you ever think that it might be related to drugs?

- Yes, I did consider it- that it was related to drugs, and that it was a case of manipulation. I even thought that the Communists were doing it to make fun of our religion. And while I was thinking about the Communists, they were thinking – “it must be that Father Jozo is manipulating the children!' Anyway, I was taking these events very slowly and I was beginning to trust them more and more.

• On one occasion in the church of St James in Međugorje, Our Lady appeared to you as well. Would you speak about that apparition?

- No, I only spoke about it to some priests and to the Commission. But even before that, my doubts about the apparitions of Our Lady had ceased. I had received such a big grace. I just had to give a clear testimony to the public – Our Lady is here, and this is what she is saying. And then they started to scrutinize me, there was always someone over my shoulder...

The full article can be found on pages 20-26 of January 2007 issue.