An American pilgrim, Arthur Boyle had a miraculous healing on Križevac

“During the climb, I was tired and I was suffering severe pains. I felt worse and worse all the time. My chest pains were as never before. We climbed to the top. There were only three of us on Križevac. We were praying from our hearts that God would forgive us all our sins and help me to get well. The three of us - grown adults - were crying and praying. I then called my wife on my cell phone because I had a feeling, and so had my friends, that something strange had happened to me there on that very hill. She told me that the operation for removing my right lung wing was arranged for four days after I would return home. I asked her to speak to the doctors and ask them if I could have another X-ray when I got home to America and see what the situation was like with my cancer - before the operation - and to organize that if possible”

The fifty one year old American, Arthur Boyle from Hingham near Boston , was a step away from death. He'd had kidney cancer and later the disease spread to his lungs. The doctors gave up on him and predicted imminent death.

- “In 1999 my diagnosis was cancer. First it was a kidney cancer. I was operated on and one kidney was removed. I thought that the operation would settle the matter. Eight months later I went for more tests and the doctors discovered three tumours on my right lung wing. They gave me a less than five percent chance of survival. There was no radiation or chemotherapy that could help me. The only possible solution was to remove the right lung wing.

- At that time my best friend asked me if I had heard of Medjugorje. I remembered that about ten years before that my daughter - then a student of Medicine - had brought home a book entitled “The Messages of Medjugorje” to her mom, my wife. My wife had read some messages to me, but I didn't pay any special attention to them at the time. But after my friend had asked me about this place, I went home and asked my wife; “What is Medjugorje actually?” And she told me all about this place of prayer, love, peace, healing… A week later, in September of 2000, I went to Medjugorje with my brother-in-law Kevin Gill and my friend Robert Griffin” – Arthur says.

The Painful Ascent to Križevac

After a long journey - made more uncomfortable by severe lung cancer - immediately upon arriving in Medjugorje, Arthur went to the evening Holy Mass in the Church of St. James with his friends. He remembers the crowds, and praying the Rosary with the others. They were singing Ave Maria at the intervals between the decades. He was moved by the sound of the people singing together from the heart. It motivated him and gave him strength.

The next day he went for confession together with his friends. They found a priest who, according to them, was extremely kind. When Arthur finished his confession, all the tension and depression left him. He felt like a new person. After that they went into a jewellery shop and coincidentally met Vicka, the visionary. After they had informed her of Arthur's disease, Vicka prayed over him. He remembers the experience as strong and significant. The next day he went to see Fr. Jozo Zovko in Široki Brijeg, and he too prayed over him. Subsequently they made plans to climb Križevac.

- It was a rainy day. While we were going up, I was very tired and felt severe pains. I felt worse and worse all the time. I felt pains in my chest, as never before. We reached the top. The three of us were alone on Križevac. We were praying with our hearts for God to forgive us all our sins and to help me get well. All three of us adults were crying and praying. After that I called my wife on my cell phone because I had the feeling, and so did my friends, that something strange had happened to me on that hill. She told me that the operation was arranged for removing my right lung wing four days after I would return home. I asked her to speak to the doctors and ask them if I could have another X-ray when I got home to America and see what the situation was like with my cancer, before the operation, and to organize that if possible. The doctor's secretary called me shortly afterwards and said, ‘ Oh, Mr. Boyle, we know that you are in Medjugorje and we know for what reason. That's really beautiful. But you have a cancer and it is not going to disappear, trust us. Please be assured that we shall have to perform this operation'.

The full article can be found on page 31-33 of Vol 2
2007 issue.