Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Virgin Mary is 165 centimetres tall, a visionary says in a new book

The Virgin Mary is a blue eyed teenage girl that appears taller than she is because she stands on a cloud.

That is according to a new book that has carried out exclusive interviews with the the visionaries of Medjugorje, who first saw her 30 years ago this year when they were schoolchildren.

On June 24, 1981, six children in the town of Medjugorje, in then Yugoslavia, began to experience phenomena which they alleged to be apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The apparition they saw had a message of peace for the world, as well as a call to conversion, prayer and fasting.

The message has gained a strong following among Catholics worldwide and Međugorje has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites attracting over 30 million pilgrims since the apparitions began in 1981.

On June 4, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI blessed a statue of Our Lady of Međugorje in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City.

In the new book "Medjugorje - 30 years of a phenomenon" authors Marijan Sivric and Ivo Scepanovic have spoken to the schoolchildren - now adults - who said they are surprised that people so often ask "what does she look like".

Visionary Vicka Ivanković said: "She is only 165 centimetres tall, and probably weighs about 60 kilos."

She added the Lady is dressed in a grey gown and a white veil covering her black hair, adding: "She has a crown of golden stars, blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and she floats on a silver cloud. She never stands on the ground."

The visionaries counted 12 stars above her head, and said she looked to be around 18 years old - but not more than 20.

The book is probably the most complete edition about Medjugorje in 30 years of the phenomenon, collecting all the important details at one place with numerous photo images.

It can be ordered online in English, Croatian, Italian and French language at www.webknjizara.hr

SIC: CT/INT'L