Priests caution against misinterpreting Medjugorje 'new time' message
Priests are cautioning that the latest message from Medjugorje, which asks us to pray for the coming of a "new time," a "time of spring," not be misinterpreted.
"We must all be very careful how we understand these words 'a new time - a time of spring,'" says Father Slavko Barbaric, a priest who has overseen events at St. James Parish in Medjugorje for many years. "Often one hears a new time being talked about in terms of a 'New Age' which in no manner of speaking signifies the same thing as is meant here in Mary's message. The 'new time' about which Mary is speaking here only comes about by way of our prayers and fasting, and were someone to overlook prayer and fasting and only speak about a NEW AGE, then this can become an entirely wrong way of thinking. This NEW TIME does not come about the way it is generally spoken of and expected in esoteric circles.
"According to the New Age theory," continues Father Barbaric, "this New Age will just come about due to a certain constellation of the stars. Mary, on the other hand, speaks of the new time which can only come about due to the conversion of souls which then open themselves to God and as soon as God enters a heart and takes the first place in it, there a NEW TIME has already begun."
It was at Medjugorje that the Virgin Mary began to appear in 1981 to six seers in a series of apparitions that even impressed non-Catholic leaders such as Pentecostalist David duPlessis, who felt a strong movement of the Holy Spirit there.
In a letter to the Pope from a Medjugorje priest, Father Tomislav Vlasic, on December 2, 1983 (one that was composed with the help of the seers and sent only after the Virgin was asked if it was okay), it was stated that there will one day come three "warnings" to the world in the form of events on earth, followed by the visible sign that may be part of the third "warning" and then "chastisement for the sins of the world." "Punishment is inevitable," said the letter, "for we cannot expect the whole world to be converted. The punishment can be diminished by prayer and penance, but it cannot be eliminated." The ninth and tenth secrets were said to be especially serious.
It has also been emphasized, however, that through prayer, conversion, and sacrifice -- especially by way of fasting -- we can lessen events that otherwise lurk in our future.
Only through prayer will the spring come.
"This 'new time' really already started with Christ's Coming and then His Resurrection, and so it is already alive and is being realized in many hearts," adds Father Slavko. " If many people decide on a new time in this manner, then this time has already come. So we may not think in the terms of a dramatic way for this new time to arrive and everyone who speaks about this in the way that Mary does here should first pray and fast very much. If this does not happen then we will somewhere start running in a wrong direction. Mary called for prayer and fasting from the very beginning and she connected this with the primary message of peace when she told us that with prayer and fasting wars and natural catastrophes can be averted."
According to another priest, Father Clement Machado, it doesn't mean a springtime for the world completely. "As always it means a remnant, that the Lord will call forth a remnant that will be faithful, a minority of the people," said Father Machado, who is seen on EWTN.
The priest believes there may be a connection between the latest message and the entrustment last month of the world to Mary's Immaculate Heart, which could cause a movement of grace. "How long it'll last, God alone knows," says Father Machado. "People say there's a springtime, but I say, well, there could be wintertime as well -- and there's going to be. There might be some interval period, a moment of mercy, some stay of execution of the judgment of God, a moment of grace, for sure, with the triumph of the Immaculate Heart, but a springtime doesn't mean the whole world will be converted. It can be a springtime in terms of God offering grace to humanity, and new opportunities and a new vista, but then what will humanity's response be? I think that's another story. I think there's going to be some response -- there's always going to be a remnant -- and that way God will spring up a remnant and I see that as a springtime. But remember, springtime is not summer; it is not full blossom. It means there are seeds that are going to be budding. Throughout history we've always talked biblically and prophetically that salvation and the faith always persevered through a remnant and when He talks about a rebuilding or a restoration, God always talks about a remnant. Whether it's Job, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, or Isaiah, they always talk about that remnant and that's been associated with restoration, a springtime."