Tribute to Mother Mary Of Medjugorje (Part 2)

The most challenging moment is when I was confronted before departure with one of my problems I had intended to tell Mother Mary. I have a beloved father who has been diabetic for the last 11years, six of which; he has been retired and thus relying on me for paying for his Medical treatment. Treating him had become so expensive that one of my intentions was to ask for his cure. However two days prior to our departure, he was told that 75% chances are that he has Cancer. His condition deteriorated at a very fast rate to the extent that he could hardly walk. Daddy was already bedridden that it was clear that if I left for the pilgrimage I might find him already in the past tense. This came close to making me change my mind about the trip.

Seeing him like this, I plucked up courage and told him that I was going for a pilgrimage hoping that because of his condition, he will stop me thus giving me a justifiable reason for not proceeding. To my surprise he asked if we would pass Rome and requested me to enter St. Francis of Assisi chapel and pray. He added that everything one asks for in this chapel, it is granted. He said this knowing very well that me being so close to him, one of my prayers would be for his recovery. It is at this time that I realized that he was positive about my trip. I then told him about Medjugorje and he asked me to bring him a rosary.

I proceeded on my trip and each time my intention changed. First when the embassy of Bosnia in Rome was refusing to give us Visas, I remember asking Mary to please give me an opportunity to pray for Daddy’s cancer results to change. Indeed after a day we were given visas and proceeded to Medjugorje via Serbia Montenegro. While in Medjugorje, I hardly thought of my other intentions. All I prayed for was to help my Father not to have cancer. On the 1st August 2005 we were told by the Parish Priest of Medjugorje that there will be a special apparition at 10.00pm. All Ugandans who where on the Pilgrimage agreed to go to the Apparition hill at 7.00pm after supper.

However when I thought this through, and considering the congestion at the place at the time, coupled with my disability (My right Leg is Slightly Shorter and smaller than my left leg) and my best friend’s (daddy’s) health which was at stake, I resolved to move to the Apparition hill earlier than the agreed time, for fear that I might miss the chance to get there in time and thus miss to tell Mother Mary about my problems. Thus by 5:00pm myself and four of my colleagues had reached the apparition hill and had stationed our selves in strategic places were we thought we may catch sight of Gospa. Honestly while I was at the hill. I remembered a few of my intentions but concentrated on my daddy’s cancer.

I asked Mary to protect daddy from the Cancer. I asked her to help me change his results and also to help me to find money for his treatment. I asked her to give me an opportunity to find daddy alive when I got home. I also asked her to help pay the bank loan in time so as to have balance money to treat daddy. I said this in all the three Rosaries I said at the hill.

Time came for the apparition. After her appearance, we were told what Mary had said. I remember she had thanked us for coming, she was pleased with the young people that had come, she said that she had prayed for all of us and all the sick people we had left at home, and that she had taken our intentions to Heaven.

At the time I was so happy because I had seen the frames and the bright stars, which I later learnt were signs of her coming. I was to some extent sure that she had been around. This was a good sign. However when we got back home, after the pilgrimage, I found my daddy in the sitting room walking! I was very amazed about the strength he had gained within this very short time. He was quick to tell me that the Doctor had said that he doesn’t have cancer but he has a slipped disc, which he said was dangerous, but a better devil than cancer. He had also changed his medication and put him off the earlier drugs. At this juncture, I remember mother Mary’s words ‘I have prayed for you and all the sick people you left at home.’

I told Daddy about our trip and it was evident that the so many troubles I went through where not only tests for my faith but also were a pre-requisite to daddy’s well-being. Daddy to date, has continued to suffer from diabetes but at least is free from cancer. I don’t blame God for this because like you remember, during my prayers, I concentrated on asking for a change in results. I thank Mother Mary for her prayers and I ask her to give me another opportunity to visit Medjugorje.

Author: Juliet