Our Lady also gave me a precious gift. She told me that she would appear to me once a year, on March 18, for the rest of my life. March 18 is my birthday, but Our Lady did not choose that date for that reason. For her, my birthday is no different from anyone else’s. Only when the things contained in the secrets start to happen will the world understand why she chose the 18th of March. The significance of the date will be clear. She also said that I would experience some additional apparitions. She then held out something like a rolled-up scroll, explaining that all ten secrets were written on it, and that I should show it to the priest I choose when the time comes to reveal them. I took it from her hand without looking at it (137).
I realized that I was still holding the scroll she had given me. Having always seen Our Lady as a physical being, it seemed natural at that time to take the object from her hand, just as I would from anyone. But now that the apparition was over, I was awestruck to see the scroll still with me. How did that happen? I wondered. How am I holding an object from Heaven? Like so many occurrences over the previous 18 months, I could only explain it as a mystery of God. Beige in color, the scroll was made of a material akin to parchment—not quite paper and not quite fabric, but perhaps something in between. I carefully unrolled it and found all ten secrets written in a simple and elegant cursive handwriting. There were no decorations or illustrations on the parchment; each secret was described in simple, clear words, similar to how Our Lady originally explained them to me. The secrets were not numbered, but they appeared in order, one after another, with the first secret at the top and the tenth at the bottom, and included the dates of the future events. (138).
When Our Lady first entrusted the secrets to me, they caused me a great amount of stress and anxiety. In time, however, God helped me comprehend and accept everything. People have always asked me about the secrets, and I cannot fault them for being curious. Many have a natural fascination with the unknown. Some have said that I am privileged to know what will happen in the future, but I do not see it that way. It would be far easier for me if I could reveal everything now. But the secrets are God’s will. I am aware of my human weaknesses and I can say with certainty that it is not me who keeps the secrets; it is only with God’s help that I am able to do it. 140.
“Contrary to what many people think, the secrets are hardly on my mind. If I was not always asked about them, days and months could pass without me thinking of the secrets. Perhaps it is a gift of God, or a result of my prayers. When people ask me gloomy questions about Biblical catastrophes and the end of the world, I feel sorry for them. Some seem to think that all the secrets are negative. Maybe they have a guilty conscience; maybe they are afraid of how they’ve lived their life and so they fear God’s punishment. Perhaps when we do not have enough good inside, we expect bad things. But nothing can be changed by worrying about the secrets. Instead, people should only worry about how to change themselves. People have asked me how I cope with the burden of the secrets, but I often think that the secrets burden others more than they do me. The people who are concerned about the secrets have not seen Our Lady and do not know about God’s complete project—why Our Lady comes here at all, or what she’s preparing us for. But if your life is in her hands, and God is in your heart, what can harm you? If everyone knew me and could see how much I laugh and joke, no one would be afraid of the secrets. Those who truly know God’s love should be full of joy. It does not make sense to talk about the future when any of us might die tomorrow. Our Lady constantly reminds us about that in her messages, like when she said, “My children, your life is only a blink in contrast to eternal life.” I cannot divulge much more about the secrets, but I can say this—Our Lady is planning to change the world. She did not come to announce our destruction; she came to save us, and with her Son, she will triumph over evil. If our Mother has promised to defeat evil, then what do we have to fear?” (141-143).
Why be afraid of what might happen tomorrow if we don’t even know what will happen in an hour? The only thing we need to fear is sin, which distances us from God. Fear of the future, and fear of the secrets, wastes our limited time on Earth. Your future could end today. We should cherish life while it lasts. So, when Our Lady told us that Međugorje would be the fulfillment of Fátima and that her heart would triumph, it was a message of hope, not gloom. She was reminding us that when we walk with her we have nothing to worry about. But even now, people often ask me how they should prepare for the time of the secrets. Should they stock their basements with food? Move to the countryside and live off the land? Buy a weapon to protect themselves? I tell them, “Yes, you should get a weapon, and you should use it often.” I show them my rosary. “This is the only weapon you’ll ever need. But it only works if you use it.” In one of her earliest messages, Our Lady told us, “Prayer and fasting can stop wars and change the laws of nature.” She was not speaking figuratively; prayer is more effective at creating change than anything we can do alone. The rosary is an especially powerful prayer. (148).
When I thought about which priest I should choose to reveal the secrets, there was one in particular who always came to mind. Fr. Petar Ljubičić, a tall Franciscan with thick glasses and a welcoming smile, ministered to the poor. If he met people in need, he would give them food and accommodation. If he saw any orphans, he would find them a home. His heart was open to those who suffered, and he always wanted to give people hope. I respected him and identified with his compassion, and he was there for me anytime I needed to speak to a priest, so naturally I felt like he should be the one. When the time comes, however, it all depends on God’s will and not mine. Although I’ve always wanted Fr. Petar to reveal the secrets, it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. What if the pope asks for them? He’s also a priest, and I could never say no to the Holy Father. (187).
The Sign
Many historic apparitions culminated in some kind of sign left for the world. Guadalupe had the image on the tilma. In Lourdes, the miraculous spring began flowing. Fátima had the Miracle of the Sun. And in Međugorje, Our Lady promised to leave a permanent sign. 232.
Prodigal Catholic 