Mary, Mother of Jesus · Updated August 15, 2026
Our Lady of Medjugorje refers to the reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary experienced by six teenagers in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, beginning on June 24, 1981. The visionaries are Mirjana Dragičević, Vicka Ivanković, Ivan Dragičević, Marija Pavlović, Jakov Čolo, and Ivanka Ivanković. These apparitions have reportedly continued with some of the visionaries experiencing daily encounters as of 2024. The Catholic Church has not yet confirmed the supernatural origin of these events, but pilgrimages to the site are permitted.
On June 24, 1981, the six teenagers reported seeing a woman with a child in her arms on a hill near Medjugorje. Over subsequent days, the apparitions reportedly continued, with the visionaries describing the woman as the Virgin Mary. The visionaries relayed messages and instructions they claimed to have received, with three of them reporting ongoing daily apparitions. The details of these encounters have been shared with the public, contributing to the site's notoriety.
The messages reported by the visionaries emphasize prayer, fasting, and peace. The Virgin Mary reportedly communicated '10 secrets' to each visionary, prophetic elements meant to be revealed publicly before they occur. The messages consistently call for conversion and a return to faith, aligning with traditional Catholic teachings, which has contributed to the site's appeal among the faithful.
The Vatican initiated an investigation in 2010 to examine the Medjugorje apparitions. A commission was established to scrutinize the visionaries' testimonies, the messages, and the spiritual fruits of the site. By 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith had granted partial approval, allowing pilgrimages but not confirming the supernatural nature of the apparitions. The Church's cautious approach reflects the complexity and ongoing nature of these events.
While many pilgrims report personal conversions and healings at Medjugorje, no miracles have been formally recognized by the Church due to the ongoing investigation. Without doctrinal approval, there is no official process to evaluate these claims scientifically, as seen in other apparition sites like Lourdes. Today, Medjugorje is the largest active Catholic pilgrimage site in the world, attracting approximately 2.5 million visitors annually.
Medjugorje is unique for its ongoing nature, with three visionaries still reporting daily apparitions over four decades after they began.
Our Lady of Medjugorje presents a theological challenge regarding how the Catholic Church should approach ongoing apparitions that attract devotion without receiving formal doctrinal approval. Since 1981, six teenagers have reported these visions, complicating the Church's ability to provide a definitive stance. Pilgrims report spiritual benefits through pilgrimages and personal conversions, while Church authorities caution against beliefs that lack formal endorsement. Questions arise about the limits of Church authority in managing private revelations that remain active and influential over an extended period.
Catholic theology defines private revelation as divine communications given to individuals outside of the public revelation contained in Scripture and Tradition. These revelations do not require the assent of faith from Catholics, meaning that belief in them is not mandatory. Church approval of a private revelation, such as Medjugorje, indicates that nothing within it contradicts faith and morals, thereby allowing for public devotion. However, approval does not certify the authenticity of the apparitions as supernatural events. In the case of Medjugorje, the Church has not given full approval, which maintains the distinction between recognizing spiritual benefits and endorsing the visions as an article of faith.
The ongoing debate surrounding Medjugorje involves critical scrutiny from theologians and Church authorities. Some critics question the authenticity of the apparitions and suspect the motivations of the visionaries, while defenders cite the positive spiritual outcomes, such as conversions and renewed faith. The continuous nature of the reported apparitions complicates the criteria for recognizing private revelations, raising questions about how long-term discernment should be conducted. As of now, the Vatican has not granted full approval but has allowed pilgrimages to Medjugorje, reflecting a cautious yet open approach to the phenomenon.
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