Ava Wilkinson

Mrs. Schmidt

Honors English 9

4/30/17

Mary appeared in Medjugorje for the first time to 6 children. These people that saw her

are called visionaries. All the visionaries agree that they see Mary in the same way as we do, and

they pray to her also. They are Marys messengers. Two of the visionaries are Vicka Ivankovic

and Ivan Dragivevic. They saw Mary on June 25. They were part of the 6 children that saw

Mary. Since this apparition Mary has been coming on the 25 of each month for the past couple of

years. The visionaries describe Mary is beautiful and full of holiness. They also say that her most

important message is to spread peace throughout the world.

Mary apparations have not only been happening in Medjugorje but they have happened in

Rwanda too. The first apparition occurred on November 28, 1981 in a school dining room at

12:35. She called Alphonsine Mumureke. She said to her My daughter, I am the Mother of the

Word, I have come to calm you because I have heard your prayers. I would like your friends to

have faith, because they do not feel strongly enough. Mary also appeared in January 1982 to a

girl named Nathalie Mukamazimpaka. Mary has been appearing to her now for about 2 years.

When she appears to these girls she sends messges of hope and courage. The most recent

apparition that has happened was on April 4, 2014. Mary appeared to a Rwandan bishop. After

this Pope Francis urged people to be agents of reconciliation. And he said I commend you all to

the maternal protection of the virgin Mary. Pope Francis said this to all the Nations Bishops.
 In the book Left to tell Ilibigazia has a very strong relationship with Mary. During the

time she was hiding in the closet she prayed a lot to her. She talked about in the book how she

thought she had a special relationship with her. She considered Mary as a second mother to her.

Ilibigazis relationship relates to the apparations because the visionaries talked about how much

they prayed to Mary and how they felt they had a special connection with her. In the story

Ilibagazia is praying to Mary because she needs help. That also relates to the other visionaries.

Throughout her time during the Genocide She prayed to Mary the whole time and Mary helped

her get through the Genocide.

Overall, the biggest connection between the book and the apparations is there is a very

strong connection to and with Mary. Mary is the Queen of peace so she is always helping people.

That is why Ilibagiza was praying to her so much because Mary got her through her hard times.

And Mary is helping the visionaries because she is giving them future secrets about the world.