THE VIRGIN SAYS FATHER SLAVKO IS IN HEAVEN
Bringing an end to a day of sorrow and grief Virgin Mary greatly consoles
Medjugorje and its followers by revealing that the late Father Slavko is in
Paradise. By promising his intercession and telling that Heaven is near in a
special way the Virgin almost invites the faithful to start taking the first
steps necessary for a future canonization.
By Jakob Marschner in Bosnia-Hercegovina
MEDJUGORJE, November 25th -- Father Slavko Barbaric of Medjugorje went straight to Heaven when he ended his earthly life Friday afternoon on the top of the local Cross Mountain. This the Virgin Mary reveals in her new monthly Medjugorje message.
By specifically saying that Father Slavko “intercedes for you” and that
“Heaven is near in a special way,” the Virgin clearly invites Medjugorje devotees to seek the intercession of the popular Franciscan in a way that might ultimately result in Father Slavko becoming a future canonized saint. Among other requirements it takes two documented miracles, and the message comes very close to inviting every Christian to seek such special gifts from Father Slavko’s heavenly prayers.
“Dear children! Today when Heaven is near to you in a special way, I call you to prayer so that through prayer you place God in the first place.
Little children, today I am near you and I bless each of you with my motherly blessing so that you have the strength and love for all the people you meet in your earthly life and that you can give God’s love. I rejoice with you and I desire to tell you that your brother Slavko has been born into Heaven and intercedes for you. Thank you for having responded to my call,” says the
message in its entirety.
A message of this kind, continuing the very positive trend from the three latest ones, was exactly what was needed among villagers and pilgrims that had spent all Saturday in tears, prayer, and attempts at consoling each other – but with very very few words among them.
However, when the message came a few people had already got a first
consolation and a clue that everything was all right in spite of the spirit
of mourning and grief. Visionary Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti’s older sister
Ruzica says that Marija got the first consolation during her apparition on Friday, only two hours after the death of Father Slavko.
“Marija was told that we should not mourn and be sad. Instead we should just go on,” her sister tells
Spirit Daily.
Going on in this respect means continuing to live by the Medjugorje message that since 1981 has invited humanity to holiness and peace by means of
prayer, fasting, Holy Mass, monthly confession and daily reading in the Bible. This was the message that Father Slavko tirelessly preached, and he clearly would have agreed that there is nothing to do but continuing along that track.
Other clues that everything was all right were given by visionary Vicka
Ivankovic who told Spirit Daily that she got no special message from the Virgin on Friday -- but hurried to add that she had been told to wait for Virgin Mary's official monthly message which she clearly expected to be
something rather special.
Also Vicka was joyful and happy as usual. Even on her way into the chapel
where the remains of Father Slavko are exposed she smilingly greeted people asking them “How do you do? Is everything fine?” as if nothing was happening around her. Inside the chapel, however, it was an otherwise sad and serious Vicka Ivankovic who led the prayer of the Rosary kneeling beside Father Slavko whose corpse was fully exposed on Saturday. During the prayer led by Vicka the chapel was literally emanating from tranquility and peace, and it was very much clear that Virgin Mary was present in the room.
In death Father Slavko looks completely peaceful – more than he used to do during an earthly life of heavy-weighing burdens, very much stress, and many crosses to carry. Several parishioners kissed him goodbye leaving tears running down the friar’s cheeks. Meanwhile others sat on the benches crying or praying. During 400 years of the Turkish occupation between the 15th and 19th centuries the people of this area developed a very close relationship to the Franciscans who remained with their flock in the face of persecution and martyrdom. These days once again reveal this very special closeness between the Franciscans and their people.
Visionary Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti has chosen the young assistant pastor Ljubo Kurtovic to be the one to whom she will communicate the Virgin’s
monthly message. Father Slavko used to have this function which is more vital than it seems, since it serves as a chance to guarantee that the words put forward are the ones the Virgin actually spoke. Father Ljubo, a tall and handsome young Franciscan radiating a profound peace and holiness, hereby once again proves himself to be a possible future key figure, and a Medjugorje priest much worthy of attention. He seems hand-picked by the Virgin herself.