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Medjugorje is a town located in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The

town is around 25 km southwest of Mostar and close to the border of Croatia. The parish of

Medjugorje is situated in the region called Herzegovina which is twenty-five meters southwest of

Mostar. Medjurgorje is holy site where visionaries have come and continue to see our Blessed

Mother. These visionaries come to the holy sites where they have seen Mary and continue to

return on the twenty-fifth of each month. People from all over the world come to visit this sacred

time in hopes to see the apparitions and visionaries.

Some visionaries include Ivanka Ivankovic, Jakov Colo, Ivan Dragiveic, and Marija

Pavlovic. On July twenty-fourth, 1981, Ivankovic and Marjia were on their way home from a

walk when they saw a bright light and Ivanka saw a silhouette of a woman on a nearby hill. The

next day the two girls returned with the two boys, Jakov and Ivan. A figure was calling them up

the hill, and it has been said that the children have almost been transported up the hill to the

Queen of Peace. People visit Medjugorje because for almost five years now, this small village

has attracted world-wide attention as the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of

Jesus, is reportedly appearing daily to several young people in this remote mountain village.

Our Lady of Fatima

Fatima is a town and Parish located North of Lisbon, Portugual. Fatima is one of the most

important catholic shrines in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Fatimas Sanctuary

welcomes millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. Fatimas fame is due to the

Apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary that appeared to three shepherd children; Lucia dos
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Santos and her two younger cousins, Francisco and Jacinta. Between May and October of 1917,

the three children witnessed several apparitions. In spring in 1916, Lucia Santos and her cousins,

were at a meadow with their sheep in Fatima. It started raining, and they hid in a small cave to

escape the rain until the rain stopped. In the middle of that light appeared a cloud and they say

the first vision of an angel in this holy place.

While I was watching the film on Medjugorje, and learning about other places visionaries

have spotted apparitions, I could connect how strong their faith is along with Immaculee

Ilibagizas faith towards God in the story Left to Tell. I especially loved the Virgin Mary,

believing that she was my second mom, watching out for me from heaven. I did not know why

but praying to her made me feel happy and warm, (Ilibagiza pg. 6.) This connects how the

visionary Marjia spoke about Mary in the film. Like as though she was our mother who looked

out for us all and treats everyone as if they are her own children. All the visionaries describe

having a loving, special, and close relationship with Mary just like Ilibagiza. These visionaries

do not describe their faith as worshipping Mary instead of our Savior, however we honor Mary,

because we feel this connection to Christ not only by praising Him, but by talking and praying to

The Blessed Mother.