Medjugorje and Me

by Kate Rines

I first heard about Medjugorje through a Eucharistic Minister friend. He called to find out if I could serve a mass for him while he was away at "Medjugorje." After he said this, he paused as if waiting for me to say something. I was thinking "Hmm, that rings a bell but I don't remember it", so I didn't say a word.

About a year and one half later I went to a new bookstore to pick up some relaxation reading. This quaint new little bookstore was closed so I went to a tag sale that is perpetually held at the old Fire Station instead. There books are on sale for a whooping $2.00 a piece. I was in the back rummaging through boxes and crates when a blue covered book caught my eye. Lo and behold it was a book on Medjugorje. I decided for $2.00 I would buy it telling myself I'd read it when I was in the right frame of mind.

I put the book on the shelf and proceeded to read one of the other books I purchased, some romance novel or other. When I finished that book one of the secretaries at school gave me another book. The Medjugorje book remained on the shelf and I would look over and say "Yes, yes, when I'm in the right frame of mind." But since I'm rarely not exhausted from a full week of work and volunteering I just wasn't getting around to it.

Then one Sunday morning I was working at the Religious Education office during class time, I reached into my purse to retrieve a receipt and I felt something odd in the bottom of my purse. I reached in and pulled it out. Guess what? It was a medal of our Lady of Medjugorje. Now I must tell you I am not a big medal person. Nor do I have any idea how that medal made it into my purse. I had been nowhere that there were medals. I sat for a short minute and said to Nancy the secretary " Hey, look what I found! Isn't that odd!" She agreed and we went back to work.

Now I may be thick but I know when I am being nagged. I went home and started reading the book on Medjugorje. How can I describe what it was like? The book was written by Wayne Weible who is a protestant and from what I gather this is very impressive. I guess Protestants aren't big on Mary (something to do with it getting in the way of worshipping Jesus.) He explains that he gets to Jesus through Mary. That she leads directly to Him. He even prays the rosary which I know is not a Protestant thing to do.

Reading about Medjugorje was a spiritually explosive experience for me. Each time I picked up the book I also took along a box of tissue. I had to be careful not to read it before school or my makeup would be ruined. The healings, the message, the faith were so profound that it shook me right down to my soul.

I have begun to pray the rosary everyday. Of course I started doing this just as the pope declared the Mysteries of the Rosary. Some might see this as coincidence but I'm telling you I know when I'm being "nagged." Not only do I pray the Rosary but, it is also another tissue box experience. I feel each and every Mystery. There are so many blessings and naggings that have taken place for me on my way to this awakening.

When I refer to nagging please don't think of it in a negative way. I have a very stubborn personality and God has to really PROD me to make me get it.

Back to Medjugorje. I wanted more information so I went to a web site and there was a place to leave an intention or a question. So, I asked what should I do now? I'm having a bit of a mid-life crisis so I thought Id get a giant answer like go and finish your Masters degree or something like that.
What answer did I get? You're reading it!
I may be stubborn but because I've been praying to Mary she lets me hear what I'm supposed to do now. Mothers can get things through to you when the Father can't.
How's the book going? Well, I haven't finished it. I'm dawdling so I might never have to finish this great book. Will I ever go to Medjugorje? I don't know. Will I finish a Master's degree? I don't know.
What I do know is that I will finish this article and the Blessed Virgin will make sure that I dont have to be prodded as hard to do what I'm supposed to do. JUST DO IT!

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