From Mr J. Abela Fitzpatrick

I too share Fr Sandro Camilleri’s disappointment and more so the opinion expressed by Joseph Gaffarena in his letter (TMIS, 3 August).

It took some time to convince me to go to Medjugorje but last year I joined a group for a whole week. To me it was very clear that the Holy Mother creates such places to attract millions of pilgrims to these holy places, which leads one to change one’s life and shows the way one to salvation.

During the hours of devotion to the Holy Eucharist, no less than 5,200 people spent a long time in silent adoration listening to reflections by the leader of this function. The church and chapels are packed with people from all walks of life attending the various Masses held at different times of the day and evening. And what about confessions? The 25 private confessionals are not enough and priests are in every corner of the square and surroundings, hearing confessions by the thousands.

No money is involved in these manifestations, not to mention the fact that there are only small and lower class hotels providing very basic accommodation facilities.

What came out of Medjugorje apart from devotion, one asks? There are numerous institutions set up for adults and children who have lost their property and families as a result of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. All these, including the drug rehabilitation centres at Il Cenaclo for addicts from all over the world, are supported only by donations.

Both the visionaries and priests hold various talks in the adjoining halls. How can all these be classified as “work of the devil” when there is so much devotion going on? For me this is the miracle of Medjugorje, as more often than not we seek physical healing and forget about the importance of spiritual healing, which leads us to eternal life.

I suggest to your readers to go and see for themselves the miracle that is Medjugorje. In the meantime, we pray that the Church will declare itself on the subject. We are very much aware that the Church is very prudent and takes quite a long time to pronounce itself on such sacred matters, as has happened with other places of devotion across the globe.

Joe Abela Fitzpatrick

SANTA VENERA